The Psychology of Extraordinary Altruism

“There's a very pervasive belief that human nature is fundamentally selfish, but I know for a fact that that can't be true in part because my life was saved by a stranger a long time ago when I was 19.” Is it possible that kindness and cruelty aren’t opposites, but points along the same spectrum of human nature? Neuroscientist Abigail Marsh has spent decades studying what she calls the “caring continuum:” A range that runs from extreme altruists to individuals with psychopathy who feel little or no concern for others. Marsh challenges the widespread belief that humans are fundamentally selfish, showing instead how neuroscience, psychology, and everyday observation tell a more complex story. 00:00:00 What draws you to this field of research?   00:00:31 Are humans fundamentally selfish?  00:03:06 How do you define psychopathy? 00:04:13 What does research reveal about psychopathy?  00:18:05 What distinguishes sociopaths from psychopaths?  00:23:23 What myths surround psychopathy?  00:25:29 What are some treatments for psychopathy? 00:28:35 What is “The Mask of Sanity”?  00:29:30 What behaviors signal potential psychopathy?   00:36:36 Why are people drawn in by those with psychopathy?  00:39:12 What traits are common among those with psychopathy?  00:47:57 Is psychopathy genetic?  00:59:35 What traits characterize altruistic individuals?  01:00:21 What defines extreme altruism?  01:03:06 Are humans an altruistic species?  01:07:59 What are pop culture examples of altruism? 01:11:05 Is genuine altruism possible?  01:15:06 What’s your take on effective altruism?  01:16:51 Can I assess my spot on the psychopathy-altruism spectrum? 01:22:32 What does research say about boosting altruism? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Abigail Marsh: Abigail Marsh is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program at Georgetown University. She received her PhD in Social Psychology from Harvard University in 2004.

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