Altruism, Altruistic acts

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:13:06 GMT

[quote user="MissVetNurse"]

What about warning calls? ie an animal in a dangerous situation will give a warning call, not just for their own pack but surround animals?

surely this has no benefit to themselves? or thanks?

[/quote]

Just done some research on this and found this

“warning call given by many species of animals including ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and passerine birds. If an individual observes an attacking predator it may give a call that has two effects. First, when other nearby individuals hear the call they recognize that danger is near and flee to safety. Individuals that hear the early warning (the recipients) benefit by having a decreased chance of being killed by the predator. However, by giving the warning call, the caller (the actor) delays his/her opportunity to flee to safety and attracts the attention of the predator, thus increasing the chance that the caller is killed by the predator."

[/quote]

This is pretty much what Stephb mentioned earlier involving the meerkats.

As lookouts they have a place in the group, so that is their reward, being part of the group, and having a job within the group, means they are an important part.

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:10:56 GMT

Hi Missvn, I do believe you are right, the chimp would not want thanks, as they dont know what that is, so I would agree that it was a true act of Altruism well done you

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:38:09 GMT

[quote user="MissVetNurse"]

What about parents who save children? or putting other's life before your own?

or anonymous charitable donations?

if you saved your child or a person knowing you'd die, is that altruism?

[/quote]

this was Darwin's argument. they do it to let their own survive so have satisfaction of knowing they will succeed, there for a reward.

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Vicky RVN — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:32:05 GMT

Hmm very good points Miss Vet Nurse. This has got me thinking!

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Claire Cameron — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:44:07 GMT

[quote user="MissVetNurse"]

What about warning calls? ie an animal in a dangerous situation will give a warning call, not just for their own pack but surround animals?

surely this has no benefit to themselves? or thanks?

[/quote]

Just done some research on this and found this

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Claire Cameron — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:42:54 GMT

What about warning calls? ie an animal in a dangerous situation will give a warning call, not just for their own pack but surround animals?

surely this has no benefit to themselves? or thanks?

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Claire Cameron — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:40:51 GMT

I found this:

The said example concerns a chimpanzee and a human. A researcher was following a group of chimpanzees in the jungle. After some hours, he found that he had forgotten his lunch back at the research station. This researcher then proceeded to try to knock down fruit from a tree some distance from where the group of chimpanzees sat eating their mid-day meal. It has been noted that after some time of unsuccessful attempts to acquire fruit... a young male from the group collected some fruits from a tree and climbed down toward the researcher. The chimpanzee then proceeded to approach the researcher and leave the fruit for the researcher.

This instance has been noted as a true act of altruism by any definition since the chimpanzee was not of relation to the researcher (not in the last 1000 years at least) and this act was a cost to itself with no benefit.

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Claire Cameron — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:39:01 GMT

What about parents who save children? or putting other's life before your own?

or anonymous charitable donations?

if you saved your child or a person knowing you'd die, is that altruism?

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:13:32 GMT

Exactly Vicky thats what I have been trying to say, everything has some form of reward.

I think the only thing on the kindness theme, would be if the recipient and also no one else knew who the kind gesture came from, but as you said, even feeling good about it yourself is in a way a reward.

So I pose the question again, is there such a thing as an Altruistic act, or Altruism.

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Vicky RVN — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:57:33 GMT

I'm trying to resist the choc at the moment...am managing to cos have just finished eating roast dinner mmmm

Hmmm just had a think...if you carry out an act of kindness there will always be a reward, in that you will feel good for being kind. Does that make sense? It does in my head!

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Caro Laithwaite VN — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:43:48 GMT

If you put here what you have done then it turns it into a reward as others will see it and compliment you thereby helping your mood.

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:51:23 GMT

Hi Miss vetnurse, it's not too bad, all you need to do is think of a act of kindness,or something along those lines, and if there is no reward for that act, then that is altruism, but so far, we have not really managed to ascertain whether there is such a thing as altruism.

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Claire Cameron — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:48:13 GMT

[quote user="Vicky Couzens"]

Mmmm thorntons! I bought my mum one of theirs. I'm not in the mood for for choc anymore...ate some green and blacks choc earlier mmmm.

[/quote]

I just ate 100g galaxy chocolate oops

ps this thread is waaaaaaaaay too deep for me today

I might read it tomorrow see if my brain is working then

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Mac Feather — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 07:25:02 GMT

Charlie brought me a walnut whip- and do you know what I forgot to eat it!!!!!!!! Sleep deprivation is not good! But on the positive side atleast its there to eat later!

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:15 GMT

Lol, me too, go to bed Vicky I am off now, so I dont eat anymore

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Vicky RVN — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:14 GMT

Ok that's it i'm off to bed...i know it's time to stop work cos i keep spelling things wrong, a sign of being too tired! Night night!

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Vicky RVN — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:52:08 GMT

Lol. I shouldn't have eaten that choc...feel a bit sick now!

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:49:33 GMT

Ohhh never tried that choc, I love these mmmmmmm white choc ones are the best I can eat bucketfulls of them

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Vicky RVN — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:45:45 GMT

Oh damn i've just eaten some more even though i didn't fancy it, just cos it's sat in front of me and i'm getting bored of my work! Think i'll call it a day at 12 and retire to my bed with the dog!

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Vicky RVN — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:39:42 GMT

Mmmm thorntons! I bought my mum one of theirs. I'm not in the mood for for choc anymore...ate some green and blacks choc earlier mmmm.

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:37:00 GMT

lol, dont worry, I would have ate it anyway, I was passing and seen the egg on the worktop.......... so had to have a bit... it was thorntons choc as well....... daughters egg, but she had her headphones in, so did not hear me saying....... ooooooooohh chocolate...lol

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Vicky RVN — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:34:46 GMT

Oops sorry my fault!

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:30:42 GMT

I have just ate a packet of crisps and a piece of easter egg..

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Vicky RVN — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:28:05 GMT

I am also distracting myself from my revision on the ear!!!

Re: Altruism, Altruistic acts

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:19:43 GMT

[quote user="Vicky Couzens"]

I want to try white choc fondue mmmm! M & S do very yummy white choc covered strawberries...and Hotel Chocolate do a white choc bar with bits of strawberry in it mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

[/quote]

Dont you are making me hungry...lol