Mapping the Psyche of Extreme Altruists: Insights from Psychology

A new study from Georgetown University has mapped out the psychological profiles of extreme real-world altruists, such as heroic rescuers, humanitarian aid workers, and people who donate organs or bone marrow to strangers at no benefit to themselves. The study found that altruistic people are no more agreeable or conscientious than other adults, nor do they report higher levels of empathy. Instead, their choices reflect the fact that they appear to truly value the wellbeing of strangers and the welfare of their communities. The study also revealed that extreme altruists have consistently high levels of Honesty-Humility, a personality trait defined by the HEXACO model of personality structure.