Altruism is helping others without expecting anything in return.
It ranges from pure altruism (no expectation of reward) to reciprocal altruism (expecting the favour returned someday) to kin altruism (helping relatives specifically). It’s a normal, healthy part of caregiving and close relationships.
A full cup can pour freely and still refill. A cup poured from constantly, never refilled, eventually runs dry. Healthy altruism refills. Unsustainable altruism doesn’t.
Why This Belongs in a Therapy Glossary
On its own, altruism is simply one of the healthier things people do. It becomes therapeutically relevant at the point where it stops being sustainable, when giving happens without reciprocity or boundaries, especially in caregiving roles or helping professions, and starts costing the giver their own wellbeing.
Altruism in Therapy
A therapist can help someone notice where their own giving has stopped refilling them, and build the boundaries that let generosity stay sustainable rather than depleting.
This entry is for general education, to make altruism easier to understand. It reflects one way of looking at a broad concept, not the whole picture. It isn’t a diagnosis or a replacement for professional support, and it can’t speak to your specific situation.
