PubHawk
Annu Rev Psychol April 2008 PMID 17550343

Putting the altruism back into altruism: the evolution of empathy.

Frans B M de Waal

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Mentions

71
Peak: 14 in Aug 2019
across 6 sources since Jun 2017

Extended reach

295,462
potential audience

Total likes

4,795

Video views

119,708

Mentions per month

Jun 2017 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter35 posts
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  • Blogs10 articles
  • YouTube3 videos
  • Facebook2 posts
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussion shows strong support and curiosity about the article, with examples like references to de Waal's work, animal studies, and debates about human innate altruism, all conveyed through thoughtful language and references to scientific literature that highlight its relevance and influence.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions express support for de Waal's ideas on the evolution of empathy, referencing the importance of altruism and its biological roots.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high curiosity, mentioning related animal behavior studies, personal reflections, and various social discussions about human nature and empathy.

EngagementHigh engagement

Many participants reference specific works, like de Waal's publication, and connect them to broader ideas, indicating deep engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The conversations reflect a significant influence on how people view altruism and empathy, with some posts emphasizing the fundamental nature of human kindness and biological mechanisms.

Abstract in brief

  • The article discusses how altruistic behavior likely evolved because it provides benefits to the giver, especially through feelings of empathy that motivate helping others in distress.
  • Empathy is a deeply rooted, ancient mechanism, shared among mammals and birds, where perceiving someone’s emotional state triggers a matching feeling in the observer, leading to helpful actions.
  • This empathetic response strengthens altruism by creating emotional investment in others' well-being, aligning with evolutionary theories like kin selection and reciprocal altruism, which predict such behavior benefits both individuals and their genes.]
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Anxo Fernández Dopico
@Carnaina · X

1⃣ Los seres humanos han evolucionado para empatizar con el sufrimiento de los demás, y para proporcionar asistencia con el fin de eliminar o compensar ese sufrimiento. https://t.co/HTYr03Jka0

Jul 24, 2021 · 34 likes · 9 shares · 6,181 followers View post →
SciShow
@SciShow · X

We humans might be fundamentally... nice. https://t.co/R3YbkpBHRV https://t.co/J141r36MSC

Aug 19, 2019 · 20 likes · 3 shares · 115,776 followers View post →
Abigail Marsh
@aa_marsh · X

@IAmMarkManson @ekadamer Happily, this is not true. Research on various non-human animals' capacity for empathy is pretty extensive. https://t.co/t5TTY27L2t

Dec 20, 2021 · 7 likes · 1 share · 5,457 followers View post →
Kert Tandog
@Kert89 · X

OMG! Frans de Waal has passed on! Rest in power! When I was a college student, I was so fascinated by his work on evolution and altruism. I enjoyed a Youtube video of a talk he had where he showed empathy & altruism exist in many animals like elephants. https://t.co/Yc3xHHQNhf https://t.co/9pbIs4ciyq

Jun 7, 2024 · 4 likes · 1,083 followers View post →
Roger Fusté
@rogetus · X

@rogerCampru @juliahino @montseao @smaccarrone @jesus_gasco @quiquevergara Putting the altruism back into altruism: the evolution of empathy https://t.co/ZzxFs6U7Tv

Dec 12, 2023 · 1 like · 3,333 followers View post →
Shobeir
@Shobeir76 · X

@leillinga 1- de Waal, F. B. M. (2008). Putting the altruism back into altruism: The evolution of empathy. Annual Review of Psychology. 2- Iacoboni, M. (2009). Mirroring people: The new science of how we connect with others.

Oct 19, 2024 · 1 like · 2,049 followers View post →

All mentions

Stuart
@Stuart387948419 · X

@RichValdes https://t.co/eCaOxxSne3

Sep 14, 2025 · 216 followers View post →
Jay Jinsing Falk
@jjinsing.bsky.social · Bluesky

Not sure if this is what you're looking for but f you want something from the animal behavior literature there's de Waal's "Putting the Altruism Back into Altruism: The Evolution of Empathy" which I think gives a decent background review of discussions since the 70s

Oct 26, 2024 · 1 like · 1 share View post →
Shobeir
@Shobeir76 · X

@leillinga 1- de Waal, F. B. M. (2008). Putting the altruism back into altruism: The evolution of empathy. Annual Review of Psychology. 2- Iacoboni, M. (2009). Mirroring people: The new science of how we connect with others.

Oct 19, 2024 · 1 like · 2,049 followers View post →
Kert Tandog
@Kert89 · X

OMG! Frans de Waal has passed on! Rest in power! When I was a college student, I was so fascinated by his work on evolution and altruism. I enjoyed a Youtube video of a talk he had where he showed empathy & altruism exist in many animals like elephants. https://t.co/Yc3xHHQNhf https://t.co/9pbIs4ciyq

Jun 7, 2024 · 4 likes · 1,083 followers View post →
Dr. Saúl Neuropsiquiatra (anti medX)
@DrPsiquiatraMx · X

@ikesharpless

Mar 16, 2024 · 857 followers View post →
Roger Fusté
@rogetus · X

@rogerCampru @juliahino @montseao @smaccarrone @jesus_gasco @quiquevergara Putting the altruism back into altruism: the evolution of empathy https://t.co/ZzxFs6U7Tv

Dec 12, 2023 · 1 like · 3,333 followers View post →
Abigail Marsh
@aa_marsh · X

@IAmMarkManson @ekadamer Happily, this is not true. Research on various non-human animals' capacity for empathy is pretty extensive. https://t.co/t5TTY27L2t

Dec 20, 2021 · 7 likes · 1 share · 5,457 followers View post →
carlos sanchez
@guanito99999999 · X

RT @Carnaina: 1⃣ Los seres humanos han evolucionado para empatizar con el sufrimiento de los demás, y para proporcionar asistencia con el f…

Jul 25, 2021 · 9 shares · 293 followers View post →
Josh Portland
@JosePortland · X

RT @Carnaina: 1⃣ Los seres humanos han evolucionado para empatizar con el sufrimiento de los demás, y para proporcionar asistencia con el f…

Jul 24, 2021 · 9 shares · 939 followers View post →
Esther Zaplana
@w3zd · X

RT @Carnaina: 1⃣ Los seres humanos han evolucionado para empatizar con el sufrimiento de los demás, y para proporcionar asistencia con el f…

Jul 24, 2021 · 9 shares · 735 followers View post →
Sebastián D.
@Red00Chan · X

RT @Carnaina: 1⃣ Los seres humanos han evolucionado para empatizar con el sufrimiento de los demás, y para proporcionar asistencia con el f…

Jul 24, 2021 · 9 shares · 198 followers View post →
Vander
@CEOofChile · X

RT @Carnaina: 1⃣ Los seres humanos han evolucionado para empatizar con el sufrimiento de los demás, y para proporcionar asistencia con el f…

Jul 24, 2021 · 9 shares · 382 followers View post →
Ugo Rivera
@ugo_r_b · X

RT @Carnaina: 1⃣ Los seres humanos han evolucionado para empatizar con el sufrimiento de los demás, y para proporcionar asistencia con el f…

Jul 24, 2021 · 9 shares · 333 followers View post →
CayoCornelio
@CayoCornelio · X

RT @Carnaina: 1⃣ Los seres humanos han evolucionado para empatizar con el sufrimiento de los demás, y para proporcionar asistencia con el f…

Jul 24, 2021 · 9 shares · 2,477 followers View post →
ginniasa
@ginniasa · X

RT @Carnaina: 1⃣ Los seres humanos han evolucionado para empatizar con el sufrimiento de los demás, y para proporcionar asistencia con el f…

Jul 24, 2021 · 9 shares · 20,229 followers View post →
Anxo Fernández Dopico
@Carnaina · X

1⃣ Los seres humanos han evolucionado para empatizar con el sufrimiento de los demás, y para proporcionar asistencia con el fin de eliminar o compensar ese sufrimiento. https://t.co/HTYr03Jka0

Jul 24, 2021 · 34 likes · 9 shares · 6,181 followers View post →
Kathryn Bloodworth
@ktb213 · X

https://t.co/TTkbBkMJ9l

Jan 17, 2021 · 86 followers View post →
Loli Jackson
@CiconiaBrown · X

@DrBioblogo Interesante hilo! No creo q hablar de empatía en este caso sea humanizar. De Waal x ej. sugiere que la empatía podría ser el mecanismo proximal para generar altruismo directo. Da qué pensar: De Waal, F. B. (2008). Putting the altruism back into altruism: the evolution of empathy.

May 26, 2020 · 368 followers View post →
Incremental Change is for the #Privileged Few!!!
@ImaHavinagredei · X

So... it is looking like #notmeus works and its natural. people / society for the most part are naturally altruistic. https://t.co/7QOfjbJLV2 https://t.co/VIZpFRInL7

Feb 16, 2020 · 1,303 followers View post →
Incremental Change is for the #Privileged Few!!!
@ImaHavinagredei · X

What do you think? https://t.co/7QOfjbJLV2

Feb 16, 2020 · 1,303 followers View post →
Michelle Ward
@justmichellem77 · X

https://t.co/9zUtJvLDTp

Sep 2, 2019 · 353 followers View post →
Brandy Davis
@ThatGeekChic · X

Are We Inherently Good? https://t.co/7wv9qmSK5E

Aug 23, 2019 · 111 followers View post →
Adam Golding
@adamgolding · X

Are We Inherently Good? https://t.co/W9ihFIzl3f

Aug 22, 2019 · 1,570 followers View post →
QuAsR
@QuAsR · X

Are We Inherently Good? https://t.co/qfiqKevs3c

Aug 21, 2019 · 98 followers View post →
Entropy
@__allprod__ · X

Are humans kind and altruistic since birth? https://t.co/BpzErk3kZq

Aug 20, 2019 · 742 followers View post →
the Marginilian
@NPollifrone21 · X

https://t.co/PuntZFC8D6

Aug 20, 2019 · 542 followers View post →
Rev. Lunar @lunar@mas.to
@rev_lunar · X

Aug 20, 2019 · 98 followers View post →
AkiraSpectrum
@AkiraSpectrum · X

Are We Inherently Good? https://t.co/oKz68ysFRs via @YouTube

Aug 20, 2019 · 290 followers View post →
Kent Cadogan Loftsgard
@Kentertainer · X

Are We Inherently Good? https://t.co/zHgh2t71hj via @SciShow Psych:

Aug 19, 2019 · 614 followers View post →
MentalChillness
@MentalChillin · X

Are We Inherently Good? https://t.co/EapQFMAAZz via @YouTube

Aug 19, 2019 · 2,093 followers View post →
Charles Ikenna
@CharlesIkenna23 · X

Are We Inherently Good? https://t.co/GkzXXAsMY8 via @YouTube

Aug 19, 2019 · 3,228 followers View post →
William Wallace
@bill14051 · X

RT @SciShow: We humans might be fundamentally... nice. https://t.co/R3YbkpBHRV https://t.co/J141r36MSC

Aug 19, 2019 · 3 shares · 271 followers View post →
Тэ дрэвэт утвикλэрэн
@TeaDrivenDev · X

RT @SciShow: We humans might be fundamentally... nice. https://t.co/R3YbkpBHRV https://t.co/J141r36MSC

Aug 19, 2019 · 3 shares · 936 followers View post →
SciShow
@SciShow · X

We humans might be fundamentally... nice. https://t.co/R3YbkpBHRV https://t.co/J141r36MSC

Aug 19, 2019 · 20 likes · 3 shares · 115,776 followers View post →
@karlesendeavour@tech.lgbt
@KarlesEndeavour · X

@bosiebluecat @libcomorg https://t.co/D4QEekWAyk https://t.co/hMvYtBwz1t https://t.co/OmGQRWAJRV

May 17, 2019 · 731 followers View post →
I_am_ John
@JohnHunterSofer · X

@vaktothemax @Rolfums @sapinker @Quillette @Evolutionistrue @daniel52464547 @CrispyCurry @ActualJoEdge You mean like putting the altruism back into altruism: the evolution of empathy, postulating that altruistic behavior evolved for the return-benefits it bears the performer. For return-benefits to play a motivational role, however, they need to be experienced by the organism.

May 12, 2019 · 296 followers View post →