Extraordinary Altruism and Transcending the Self

Abstract

Longstanding psychological theories posit a link between empathy and altruism. A new study of anonymous kidney donors finds these 'extraordinary altruists' show an increased overlap in neural responses to pain for self and others. These findings, alongside other recent studies of altruism, shed new light on the nature of selflessness.

Keywords: empathy; exceptional altruism; left anterior insula; selflessness.