Over 55% Agree With the Concept of Effective Altruism

Effective altruism is a philosophical and social movement that advocates “using evidence and reason to figure out how to benefit others as much as possible, and taking action on that basis.”  People who pursue the goals of effective altruism are called effective altruists.

Altruism can take many forms, from donating time or money to charitable causes, volunteering at a soup kitchen or animal shelter, or simply being there for a friend in need. Some argue that all acts of kindness are ultimately motivated by self-interest, whether it be a desire for social approval, a sense of moral obligation, or a belief that helping others will ultimately lead to personal happiness.

On the other hand, others believe that true acts of altruism exist and that it is a genuine expression of concern for the welfare of others. Regardless of the motivations behind it, altruism is an important and valuable quality to cultivate in oneself. It helps to build strong, supportive communities and can create a ripple effect of positive change in the world.

Hence, Real Research launched a survey on public opinion on effective altruism to gather further details on the impacts of altruism and hear the public perception.

Highlights:

• 52.64% are well aware of the concept of effective altruism.
• 56.14% agree with the concept of effective altruism.
• 42.37% of respondents have helped another person with no expectation of a reward.

Altruism 101

Effective altruism is a philosophy that promotes using evidence and reason to determine the most effective ways to help others and then acting on those conclusions. It aims to make the greatest positive impact on the world through charitable and philanthropic efforts.

We asked our respondents if they were aware of the concept behind altruism. Results show that nearly 53% (52.64%) are well aware, 29.77% are partially aware, 10.72% are not aware but have heard of the term, and 6.87% are unaware.

“Out of those surveyed, 56.14% agreed with the concept of effective altruism, while 10.55% disagreed. The remaining 29% were uncertain.”

How Does It Develop?

According to our respondents, 42.57% report through the act of upbringing (by seeing parents and caregivers practice altruism), 26.59% as an act of returning a favor, 17.69% in anticipation of getting help when required, and 5.39% say through life experience.

When asked about the factors that contribute to effective altruism, 32.47% of respondents cited inspiration from others’ acts of altruism, 24.92% cited empathy, 15.53% cited habit, and 7.68% cited guilt for past wrongdoing.

Why Does One Engage in Effective Altruism?

29.05% say to lead by example, 20.38% say as a way of showing gratitude, 22.18% due to being able to relate to the afflicted, and 11.88% in anticipation of receiving a favor when needed.

What Are the Impacts of Altruism?

Generally, effective altruism aims to have a positive impact on the world by addressing important global problems such as poverty, disease, and environmental degradation.

According to our respondents, some potential impacts of effective altruism include:

Improved personal well-being (30.97%), improved well-being of society (25.55%), improved social connections (29.74%), and improved self-esteem (12.58%).

Furthermore, the next poll shows whether respondents have engaged in the act of altruism. Results reveal that almost 50% have always engaged, compared to 5.53% who have not. Meanwhile, 29.01% said sometimes, and 13.43% said rarely.

Furthermore, when asked which act of altruism they engaged in, a majority (42.37%) said they helped another person with no exception of a reward, followed by 14.86% said someone despite personal costs or risks, and 7.21% said they shared resources even in scarcity.

Likewise, the majority (36.58% ) of those who engaged in the act of altruism reported that they felt happy doing so, followed by 13.48% felt heroic, 18.44% felt powerful, 11.36% felt recognized, and 11.77% felt content.

Drawbacks of Altruism

When asked what some of the drawbacks of effective altruism were, 30.45% reported that it might be risky, 22.76% said it might cause one to disregard one’s health, social or financial needs, 17.36% said it may not always yield positive results, and 4.38% said it might focus on a particular cause while ignoring others.