define altruistic behavior
(redirected from Altruistic behavior) Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Wikipedia. Related to Altruistic behavior: Altruists. (Äl`troÍoÄ­z`Ém), concept in philosophy and psychology that holds that the interests of others, rather than of the self, can motivate an individual. The term was invented in the 19th cent. by the French philosopher Auguste ComteComte, Auguste.
Altruistic behaviour is therefore the opposite of egoistic behaviour. It involves intention to help others when used of human behaviour, but the fact that some animal behaviour is judged to be altruistic indicates that there are two possible bases to a definition: intentionality, and behavioural effects.