Special Episode 250 - The Science Behind the Wisdom of the Ages

Truisms are, by definition, clear and evident. We take them at face value because they make intuitive sense. But are they true? Does the science line up with grandma’s kitchen-table advice? This week, to celebrate episode number 250, we’ll take a deep dive into the science behind three of the best-known truisms. 

Let’s get right into it:

Truism #1: Treat others as you’d like to be treated.

It’s the Golden Rule. But why, on an evolutionary level, do we bother being nice? Why do we instinctively teach our kids to share, help, and be kind?

Several theories have popped up over the decades. First came the idea of the selfish gene, which posited that we are altruistic towards our relatives to maximize survival of the family tree.

But that explanation seemed too narrow. Why, then, would we be nice to friends or strangers? Indeed, the selfish gene doesn’t explain the Sex and the City episode where Carrie’s diaphragm gets stuck and Samantha helps her get it out. (“And I just had my nails done.”)

Next, the idea of reciprocal altruism came along—the idea that we might help a non-relative so they would owe us. For instance, a famous study in the uber-prestigious journal Science found that female baboons who spent a lot of time grooming and resting together—the baboon equivalent of #girlsquad—were more likely to have infants that survived to their first birthday. Maybe altruism existed because it was a way of banking favors?

It’s possible, but that still doesn’t explain why we help or cooperate with strangers, like holding open a door for the person behind us or lining up for the bus rather than rushing it all at once.

The answer? A new theory of indirect reciprocity, which states that people are willing to help others in order to build their reputation, which effectively banks help and support for the future. For better or worse, altruism increases when it is public, which explains why charities display the names of their donors on the brick walk, the donor wall, or the playbill. 

That leaves us with a question: can people be kind without a reward? Is there such a thing as pure altruism?

That leaves us with a question: can people be kind without a reward? Is there such a thing as pure altruism? As of yet, there’s no definitive answer, but in the meantime, let’s look...

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