THE ROLE OF EGOISM IN THE FORMATION OF AN ALTRUITIC MODEL OF BEHAVIOR

Abstract

Abstract. The authors of the article set out to analyze how selfishness, traditionally perceived as a negative personality trait, can positively influence the formation of altruistic behavior. It is argued that egoism performs important protective and motivational functions, and also allows individuals to better adapt to stressful situations and achieve their goals. Modern researchers consider in classical scientific literature the concept of egoism as a value orientation of the subject, which consists in the predominance in his activities and behavior of selfish personal needs while ignoring the interests of other people and social groups, where the manifestation of the egoistic model of behavior is the attitude towards the environment as a means of achieving own selfish goals. In the history of psychology, the question of the relationship between egoism and altruism has attracted considerable attention of researchers since the 19th century, and the interest does not fade to this day. The research analyzed the problem in the context of Charles Darwin's evolutionary theory, which emphasizes the biological basis of selfishness as a strategy of self-preservation, drawing attention to the fact that selfish tendencies have deep roots in the human genetic code. The considered position of sociobiology, in which there is an attempt to adapt evolutionary concepts to the analysis of social behavior, believing that the behavior of people, similar to the behavior of animals, can be partially explained by the results of natural selection. Special attention is paid to norms of reciprocity as a crystallization of moral judgments. The role of empathy in the development of an altruistic model of personality behavior is investigated. It is argued that selfishness can serve as a basis for altruistic behavior, as awareness of the interdependence between personal well-being and the well-being of society can motivate an individual to act altruistically. The need to understand selfishness as a constituent element that can contribute to the development of healthy social relations is emphasized, since even altruistic acts can have selfish motivation.