Generous Toddlers In New Study May Explain The Root Of Altruism

It's hard to find a definitive answer to the age-old question: Are humans born good? According to new research1, we may have more answers. In a recent study, researchers found that an inherent "goodness" can begin in a person as early as infancy.

Researchers then tested to see if the results were still applicable when infants hadn't already eaten, conducting the study at a typical feeding time for the children. Even when hungry, they offered the fruit back to the researcher, prioritizing someone else's needs over their own needs—the key to altruism. 

The fact that babies were able to sacrifice their needs to help a struggling stranger without verbal instruction or any real understanding of their motivations shows that altruism may be an inherent trait that some are just born with.

According to Barragan, "We think certain family and social experiences make a difference, and continued research would be desirable to more fully understand what maximizes the expression of altruism in young children. If we can discover how to promote altruism to our kids, this could move us toward a more caring society."