A common contrast to altruistic acts are acts of psychopathy.  Psychopaths are people who have little or not remorse for their actions.  They are thought to not feel empathy for others.  Thus, they act in very selfish ways to promote their own welfare.  Thus, it would seem that people who we would consider to be prototypes of altruism (e.g., Mother Teresa or Gandhi) would be considered as complete opposites to psychopaths.  However, a great article by Andrea Kuszewski points out some similarities between what she calls extreme-altruism and psychopaths. 

She describes people who have extreme-altruistic personalities as someone who goes out of their way to help others, even at the expense of their own welfare. 



It is an interesting idea to point out similarities with extreme-altruism and psychopaths.  Some of the similarities include impulsivity, need for novelty, and the tendency to break rules.  However, the differences are what fundamentally define these two types of people.  People who are altruistic can empathize with others or imagine themselves in the other persons shoes.  Whereas, people who are psychopaths cannot empathize and lack remorse for their actions. 

An interesting question brought up by this article is how many people are extreme altruists compared to the every-day person who does altruistic acts?  Or are there many people who are extreme altruists compared to the people who give their whole lives to being altruistic?

I don't have time to answer these questions because I need to rush into this burning building to save small children.

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