Nature of Selfishness: A Primer
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31150/ajshr.v4i10.2467Keywords:
selfishness, altruism, selflessness, nature of selfishness, egoismAbstract
Selfishness is regarded as seeking one’s own interest or happiness to the disregard of the well-being of others. It is a pre-requisite for survival for any living being on earth. To be selfish is to be motivated by concern for one’s self-interest. Yet, we all need to have some self-interest. There are many reasons not to be selfish. Research suggests that compassionate, generous people are happier, healthier, more popular, and more successful. This paper introduces the reader to the nature of selfishness.
References
D. Warsh, “How selfish are people—Really?” May-June 1989,
https://hbr.org/1989/05/how-selfish-are-people-really
J. O. Sadiku, M. N. O. Sadiku, U. C. Chukwu, and J. King, “Selfishness breaks all the ten commandments,” International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development, vol. 7, no. 1, January-February 2023, pp. 139-145.
https://pixabay.com/illustrations/selfishness-egotistical-self-love-7488645/
“Two critics vs. the world — Selfish vs selfless Yanderes,”
https://thatyanderecritic.tumblr.com/post/179706935142/selfish-vs-selfless-yanderes
J. Valli, “Selfishness as the core human nature,”
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/selfishness-core-human-nature-dr-joji-valli-phd-in-csr
“Psychological egoism,” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_egoism
J. W. H. Sonne and D. M. Gash, “Psychopathy to altruism: Neurobiology of the selfish–selfless spectrum,” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 9, May 2018.
S. B. Kaufman and E. Jauk, “Healthy selfishness and pathological altruism: Measuring two paradoxical forms of selfishness,” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 11, May 2020.
H. Rachlin, “Altruism and selfishness,” Behavioral And Brain Sciences, vol. 25, 2002, pp. 239–296.
L. Afifa, “The positive sides of being selfish,” January 2023,
https://en.tempo.co/read/1681780/the-positive-sides-of-being-selfish
K. Sigmund, The Calculus of Selfishness. Princeton University Press, 2010.
A. Kohn, The Brighter Side of Human Nature: Altruism and Empathy in Everyday Life. Basic Books, 2008.
N. P. Money, The Selfish Ape: Human Nature and Our Path to Extinction. Reaktion Books, 2019.
A. Rand, The Virtue Of Selfishness. Penguin, 1964.
B. Schwartz, The Battle for Human Nature: Science, Morality and Modern Life. WW Norton & Company, 1987.
B. Alm, The Un/selfish Leader: Changing Notions in a Tamil Village. VDM Verlag, 2008.
R. Dawkins, The Selfish Gene. Oxford University Press, 1989,
A. Knafo et al. (eds.), Pathological Altruism. Oxford University Press, 2011.
H. Valderrama, The Selfish Humans. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016.
S. Bradley, The Mystery & Equity of Providence: A Sermon, Etc. R. & W. Dean, 2016.
