Articles related to Pathological Altruism
Reviewed by PsycCRITIQUES, Contemporary Psychology, APA
REVIEW OF BOOKS, AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
(Initial excerpt from full review)
By Theresa A. Thorkildsen
In many branches of psychology, altruism is situated among the highest of moral virtues. Moral psychologists highlight the personal and societal benefits of altruism (Colby & Damon, 1992), and those who study civic engagement offer guidelines for strengthening individuals’ propensity to engage in altruistic acts (Bowers et al., 2010). Clinical psychologists even classify altruism as one of the most mature defense mechanisms available to us (Vaillant, 1993).
The arguments put forth in Pathological Altruism challenge these notions of the good by offering insights into how and why individuals can become too self-sacrificing or can do harm to the very people who are expected to benefit from prosocial efforts. By showing the mix of good intentions with themes such as hording, self-righteousness, and addictions that are taken to extremes, authors provide readers with a strong understanding of how people alleviate their own personal distress by trying to help others. Specific chapters offer varied insights into how altruism affects self-care, relationships, and civic engagement. Taken as a whole, the book helps readers better imagine how they might participate in civil discourse.
Why Spoil the Fun of Good Intentions?
This book offers a well-balanced sense of how altruistic acts can cause harm to the self, to any intended target(s), and to society at large. Although not organized into these categories, Pathological Altruism highlights the problems that can emerge when personal, civic, and civil agendas are left unchallenged...
By Theresa A. Thorkildsen
In many branches of psychology, altruism is situated among the highest of moral virtues. Moral psychologists highlight the personal and societal benefits of altruism (Colby & Damon, 1992), and those who study civic engagement offer guidelines for strengthening individuals’ propensity to engage in altruistic acts (Bowers et al., 2010). Clinical psychologists even classify altruism as one of the most mature defense mechanisms available to us (Vaillant, 1993).
The arguments put forth in Pathological Altruism challenge these notions of the good by offering insights into how and why individuals can become too self-sacrificing or can do harm to the very people who are expected to benefit from prosocial efforts. By showing the mix of good intentions with themes such as hording, self-righteousness, and addictions that are taken to extremes, authors provide readers with a strong understanding of how people alleviate their own personal distress by trying to help others. Specific chapters offer varied insights into how altruism affects self-care, relationships, and civic engagement. Taken as a whole, the book helps readers better imagine how they might participate in civil discourse.
Why Spoil the Fun of Good Intentions?
This book offers a well-balanced sense of how altruistic acts can cause harm to the self, to any intended target(s), and to society at large. Although not organized into these categories, Pathological Altruism highlights the problems that can emerge when personal, civic, and civil agendas are left unchallenged...
William Flesch on
Pathological Altruism
Los Angeles
Times, August 19, 2012
Barbara Oakley on the dangers of killing with kindness
Washington Times, September 12, 2012
Asking Barbara Oakley: What is the virtue of being
selfless?
Washington Times, September 10, 2012
27 Must-Read Fitness, Health, and Happiness Books
Greatist, Sep 19, 2012
Good grief: Book explores the dark side of altruism
Binghamton University
Magazine, Spring, 2012
The Independent Whig: Challenging Conventional Wisdom
about Conservatism and Liberalism, Feb 26, 2012.
Beware of Dog, Michael L. Tan, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Nov 17, 2011. (Pathological altruism in Philippine politics.)
Twain House Embezzler: A 'Pathological Altruist'? by Edmund Mahony, The Hartford Courant, Nov 19, 2011.
The UK Independent "Are We Killing People with Kindness?" by Barbara Oakley, 6 November 2011.
The New York Times "The Pathological Altruist Gives Till Someone Hurts," by Natalie Angier, October 3, 2011.
Beware of Dog, Michael L. Tan, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Nov 17, 2011. (Pathological altruism in Philippine politics.)
Twain House Embezzler: A 'Pathological Altruist'? by Edmund Mahony, The Hartford Courant, Nov 19, 2011.
The UK Independent "Are We Killing People with Kindness?" by Barbara Oakley, 6 November 2011.
The New York Times "The Pathological Altruist Gives Till Someone Hurts," by Natalie Angier, October 3, 2011.
New Scientist, Pathological
Altruism (570.4KB) The harmful side of doing good, by Barbara Oakley and Guruprasad Madhavan, Sep 10, 2011
The Times Higher Education: The Violence of the Lambs
(120.1KB) Polyglot polymath and scholar Barbara Oakley takes a incisive look at the cult of the victim, by Matthew Reisz, Sep 1, 2011
Praise for Pathological Altruism
“What a wonderful book! This is one of the few books in evolutionary biology I've read in the past ten years that taught me something completely new.”
—Edward O. Wilson, Pulitzer Prize Winner, Harvard University
"Read this book. You will learn much that would be new to you, whatever your expertise or interest. And I would be surprised if you don’t enjoy this voyage of discovery."
—Francisco J. Ayala, Templeton Prize Laureate and University Professor, University of California, Irvine
“The coverage of topics is breathtaking…the reader will emerge with a much deeper and nuanced understanding of altruism in reading this book, the best on altruism in the last 15 years.”
—Dacher Keltner, Professor of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley; author of Born To Be Good: The Science of A Meaningful Life
“This unique volume manages the impressive feat of pulling together the best research from psychology, genetics, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and law on well-meaning but ultimately harmful forms of self-sacrifice. It will forever change the way you look at altruism.”
—Sharon Begley, Science Editor, Newsweek; author of Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain
“An essential reading for anyone who truly cares about helping others.”
—Paul Zak, Professor of Economics, Claremont Graduate University; co-editor of Moral Markets: The Critical Role of Values in the Economy
“What is grand about the collection is that light pours in through every contribution, and even the glare of competing views can reveal dark assumptions.”
—Robert J. Richards, Morris Fishbein Professor of Science and Medicine; The University of Chicago and author of Darwin and the Emergence of Evolutionary Theories of Mind and Behavior (winner of the Pfizer Prize in History of Science)
“This volume is unique in examining ‘pathological altruism’ from various angles with unfailing insight and depth.”
—Elkhonon Goldberg, Clinical Professor of Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, author of The New Executive Brain and The Wisdom Paradox
''Be careful what you wish for' might be one way of summing up the take-home message of this strikingly original book, highlighting the fact that "more is not always better" when it comes to either being the altruist or the recipient of altruism.
—Jay Belsky, Professor of Pyschology; Birkbeck University of London
“Is pathological altruism a disease, an addiction, an evolutionary relic, or perhaps a mirage? This is a wonderfully engaging and thought provoking book: you may not agree with all of its arguments, but you'll never look at kindness quite the same way again.”
—Oren Harman, Chair of the Graduate Program in Science, Technology and Society, Bar Ilan University, Israel, author of The Price of Altruism
“What a wonderful book! This is one of the few books in evolutionary biology I've read in the past ten years that taught me something completely new.”
—Edward O. Wilson, Pulitzer Prize Winner, Harvard University
"Read this book. You will learn much that would be new to you, whatever your expertise or interest. And I would be surprised if you don’t enjoy this voyage of discovery."
—Francisco J. Ayala, Templeton Prize Laureate and University Professor, University of California, Irvine
“The coverage of topics is breathtaking…the reader will emerge with a much deeper and nuanced understanding of altruism in reading this book, the best on altruism in the last 15 years.”
—Dacher Keltner, Professor of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley; author of Born To Be Good: The Science of A Meaningful Life
“This unique volume manages the impressive feat of pulling together the best research from psychology, genetics, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and law on well-meaning but ultimately harmful forms of self-sacrifice. It will forever change the way you look at altruism.”
—Sharon Begley, Science Editor, Newsweek; author of Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain
“An essential reading for anyone who truly cares about helping others.”
—Paul Zak, Professor of Economics, Claremont Graduate University; co-editor of Moral Markets: The Critical Role of Values in the Economy
“What is grand about the collection is that light pours in through every contribution, and even the glare of competing views can reveal dark assumptions.”
—Robert J. Richards, Morris Fishbein Professor of Science and Medicine; The University of Chicago and author of Darwin and the Emergence of Evolutionary Theories of Mind and Behavior (winner of the Pfizer Prize in History of Science)
“This volume is unique in examining ‘pathological altruism’ from various angles with unfailing insight and depth.”
—Elkhonon Goldberg, Clinical Professor of Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, author of The New Executive Brain and The Wisdom Paradox
''Be careful what you wish for' might be one way of summing up the take-home message of this strikingly original book, highlighting the fact that "more is not always better" when it comes to either being the altruist or the recipient of altruism.
—Jay Belsky, Professor of Pyschology; Birkbeck University of London
“Is pathological altruism a disease, an addiction, an evolutionary relic, or perhaps a mirage? This is a wonderfully engaging and thought provoking book: you may not agree with all of its arguments, but you'll never look at kindness quite the same way again.”
—Oren Harman, Chair of the Graduate Program in Science, Technology and Society, Bar Ilan University, Israel, author of The Price of Altruism