Altruism vs Psychopathy- An Essay
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It was just another evening in my neighborhood, back in 1999. I was six years old, playing with my slingshot on the balcony, when the desperate whimpering of a puppy caught my attention. Alarmed, I ran downstairs to investigate. The local kids told me the heartbreaking truth: the puppy had been thrown into a deep construction ditch, a place so precarious it was impossible for us to rescue it.
But the question lingered—who would do such a thing? The answer was chilling. A boy, infamous for his foul language and cruel behavior, had taken pleasure in throwing the helpless creature into the ditch. When I confronted him, hoping for some flicker of guilt or regret, I saw none. His apathy, his complete lack of remorse, marked my first encounter with what I now understand as psychopathy.
Yet, my childhood wasn’t devoid of hope or humanity. I witnessed moments of selflessness that reminded me of the goodness in people. One such instance became the talk of the town—a local electrician risked his own life to save a little girl who was dangling precariously from the balcony of a neighboring apartment. He acted without hesitation or thought of reward, and though his bravery was celebrated for a time, it was clear he hadn’t done it for fame or recognition.
These contrasting moments shaped my view of the world—a place where cruelty exists but is counterbalanced by acts of profound kindness. It’s those moments of righteousness and courage that make the world feel a little greener, a little brighter.
How do we live in a society where the pendulum of human empathy swings so dramatically—from individuals capable of selfless, almost divine love, to those who exhibit the cold, remorseless behavior of a serial killer? It’s akin to having both a lamb and a wolf within the same flock.
When the topic of psychopaths arises, the first explanation many offer is, “They must have had a traumatic childhood.” While it’s a common belief, studies have shown that this isn’t always the case. Psychopathy is often rooted in genetics, tied to the brain’s structure—a hereditary condition rather than solely a product of environment.
At the core of this difference lies the amygdala, a small yet critical structure in the brain’s temporal lobe. Psychopaths often have underactive or dysfunctional amygdala, impairing their ability to feel empathy or fear. In contrast, altruists—those who dedicate their lives to the well-being of others—tend to have a highly active and prominent amygdala.
In simpler terms, society comprises two extremes of humanity, with the majority of us falling somewhere in between these polar opposites.
I’m a self-proclaimed history enthusiast. While I don’t hold a professional degree in the subject, I’ve spent countless evenings immersed in books and documentaries that delve into the stories of our past. History reveals who we are and how we’ve evolved into the societies we inhabit today.
Throughout history, we can trace the rise and fall of altruistic values, many of which likely influenced the survival and flourishing of the altruistic gene. In fact, the very concept of civilization may have been a catalyst for nurturing altruism. At its core, civilization is built on systems that discourage harmful behavior—punishing murder with the death penalty or social ostracism, for example. While agriculture and shelter offered practical reasons for settling down, they wouldn’t have sufficed if people had to farm next to a psychopath.
Ancient civilizations recognized this need for order and introduced both justice systems and moral frameworks. Almost universally, they implemented some form of reward-and-punishment belief system. In the West and the Middle East, this often manifested as moral codes tied to divine approval or wrath. In the East, the concept of karma emerged, where actions inevitably led to reciprocal outcomes.
These systems not only kept societies functional but also reinforced the value of altruistic behavior, shaping the moral and social fabric we still navigate today.
Early justice systems often dealt harshly with wrongdoers—murderers, thieves, and deceivers were frequently punished by death. While this approach tragically led to the execution of many innocent people based on suspicion or flawed judgment, it likely provided enough incentive for women to choose partners with altruistic tendencies over those exhibiting psychopathic traits.
But if this system encouraged altruism, why does narcissism continue to thrive in society? The answer lies in the interplay between altruism and narcissism—an endless game of strategy where each adapts and finds its advantage within the rules. It’s akin to an infinite chess match, with each "player" attempting to outsmart the other with every turn. I see it as the pendulum of social behavior, swinging between the extremes of selflessness and self-serving cunning.
A society composed predominantly of altruists, while ideal in some respects, could become vulnerable to external threats. History offers examples of this imbalance—when the Vikings raided the gold-adorned churches of northern England, they encountered little resistance from the altruistic priests who sought peace over violence. The result was slaughter and plunder at the hands of a force that exploited this vulnerability.
Throughout history, the narrative shifts repeatedly, subtly favoring either altruism or psychopathy at different times. This ever-changing balance shapes the evolution of societies, ensuring that neither trait dominates entirely but both persist in their own ways.
Let’s examine a few examples of how the pendulum of societal behavior has swung between extremes of altruism and psychopathy.
Western and Northern Europeans:
By the dawn of the 20th century, much of the world had been colonized and divided like pieces of a cake among the musket-armed, disciplined armies of Europe. However, these conquests were rarely framed as a quest for world domination. Instead, they were cloaked in the narrative that Europeans bore the "burden" of educating and civilizing the rest of the world.
During this period, Western Europe flourished with ideas of human rights, scientific discoveries, and technological inventions. Colonial powers introduced systems like modern courts to a largely feudal world and helped sow the seeds of nationalism. Yet, this altruistic veneer was often overshadowed by the dark realities of colonial exploitation. Massacres, slavery, and resource plundering were common, often at the expense of local populations.
The colonial era was vast and spanned centuries, displaying both altruistic and psychopathic tendencies. For instance, in India, British colonial rule abolished regressive practices like sati (the immolation of widows) and curbed the exploitation of locals by the Nawabs (Muslim noble elites). They also introduced infrastructure like railways and industries, some of which still serve the nation today. However, the British often prioritized their crown's interests, committing atrocities like the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, where innocent civilians were massacred. Their laws frequently benefited the colonizers while devastating local livelihoods.
The era of colonial supremacy eventually culminated in two world wars, where the competing powers clashed over territorial expansion, ultra-nationalism, and ideological differences. During times of war, society shifts away from empathy and altruism, favoring cunning, ruthless individuals to lead the military and political machinery. Human losses are reduced to mere statistics, and figures like Josef Mengele—infamous for his psychopathic experiments—rose to positions of power. Subjugation and annihilation of foreign populations became widely accepted strategies.
However, as the wars ended in exhaustion and devastation, the pendulum began swinging back toward altruism. This shift is evident in the post-war actions and narratives of the 1940s and 1950s. Many former colonies gained independence without bloodshed, and efforts like the Marshall Plan helped rebuild war-torn Europe. Initiatives like Kindertransport rescued thousands of Jewish children, and institutions like the United Nations and the European Union were formed to promote global cooperation and peace.
Cultural shifts also reflected this change. Films and television of the era began to emphasize compassionate protagonists, while narratives of collective well-being gained prominence. Former colonizers, who had long exploited African resources, started supporting humanitarian efforts, sending donations to the very regions they once plundered. Societies that once fought for supremacy began tackling racial injustice, with people of color not only gaining equal rights but also rising to positions of power.
What Drove This Rise in Altruism?
Three primary factors contributed to this shift:
War Weariness: The immense human loss and destruction from the two world wars forced societies to abandon the concept of supremacy and embrace alternative, cooperative views.
Sense of Security: The economic and political dominance achieved by Europe over the preceding centuries provided a foundation of security, enabling a shift toward more altruistic values.
Individualism: The growing emphasis on individual rights and the value of personal well-being over collective group dominance fostered a more compassionate worldview.
The Pendulum’s Future Swing:
Yet, history shows that the pendulum is never static. With the rise of economic turmoil, declining populations, ultra-individualism, and fractured family systems, it’s possible we may see the pendulum swing back toward self-interest and conflict. As societies adapt to new challenges, the balance between altruism and psychopathy remains in perpetual motion—a testament to the complex dynamics of human behavior.
The Middle East and the Islamic World
If you search for the worst places for minorities and women to live today, a significant portion of the list is dominated by predominantly Muslim countries. While many Muslim-majority nations perform reasonably well economically, particularly those enriched by oil wealth, they often lack the spark of innovation or excellence that once characterized the Islamic world. This is a stark contrast to the region's history as a hub of cultural growth and intellectual achievement.
The Islamic world has experienced remarkable highs and dramatic swings, akin to the pendulum of societal behavior. The early Islamic expansion was almost miraculous. Within a short period, Muslim armies managed to defeat both the Roman Byzantine Empire and the Sassanid Persian Empire, replacing them with sustainable and evolving cultures. Early successes can largely be credited to innovative military tactics, resilience, and a unified purpose.
The Islamic Golden Age:
The true golden age of the Islamic empires, however, emerged when they adopted a secular and tolerant outlook. From the 8th to the 14th century, before the Mongol invasions, the Muslim world became a beacon of intellectual progress. Greek philosophies and sciences acquired from conquered territories were studied, refined, and expanded. Baghdad, in particular, became an intellectual hub where books were traded for their weight in gold.
During this period:
Hospitals: Institutions like the Ahmad ibn Tulun Hospital in Cairo provided medical care and advanced the study of medicine.
Libraries: The House of Wisdom in Baghdad, established by Caliph Harun al-Rashid, sponsored translations of Greek, Persian, and Indian works into Arabic, fostering a rich academic environment.
Philanthropy: Charitable endowments (waqfs) funded education, infrastructure, and public services.
This era of prosperity and enlightenment was characterized by cultural and scientific achievements that set the foundation for many modern disciplines.
The Decline of the Golden Age:
The collapse of the Golden Age resulted from a combination of factors, with two primary catalysts being intellectual stagnation and the Mongol invasions.
Intellectual Stagnation:
A significant shift occurred with the rise of scholars like Al-Ghazali, whose school of thought discouraged critical inquiry into natural sciences and philosophy. In his influential work, The Incoherence of the Philosophers (Tahafut al-Falasifah), Al-Ghazali argued that rationalism and causality diminished the role of God. He considered it sinful to question the mechanisms of physics or nature, as God was deemed the ultimate cause of all phenomena. This perspective, while aligning with certain theological principles, stifled the spirit of scientific exploration and rational debate that had fueled earlier advancements.Mongol Invasions:
The Mongol invasions devastated the Muslim world, culminating in the sack of Baghdad in 1258. Libraries, infrastructure, and centuries of accumulated knowledge were obliterated. This catastrophic event not only ended the Islamic Golden Age but also shifted the region's role models. The Mongols set a precedent for power through brute force, and their destruction forced the Muslim world to reevaluate its priorities.
The Rise of Militaristic Models:
The devastation left by the Mongols created an environment where rulers like Timur emerged as celebrated figures. Timur, despite committing some of history's most horrific massacres, claimed direct succession from Genghis Khan and was seen as a stabilizing force against political unrest and external threats like the Crusaders. His military success overshadowed his brutality, and he became a celebrated figure in Islamic history.
This shift in admiration—from intellectual and empowering rulers like Harun al-Rashid to militaristic conquerors like Timur—had long-term consequences. After Timur, the most successful Muslim rulers, such as the Mughals in India and the Mamluks in Egypt, adopted similar Turkic militaristic models. Their emphasis shifted heavily toward conquest and empire-building rather than intellectual or cultural enrichment.
Lingering Issues:
The continued reverence for militaristic figures over intellectual or altruistic leaders remains a challenge in the Muslim world today. It has contributed to a focus on power and control rather than fostering innovation, inclusivity, and progress. While there are exceptions, the cultural pendulum has yet to swing back to a period of enlightenment and tolerance comparable to the Golden Age.
