Altruism between Romantic Partners: Biological Offspring as a Genetic Bridge between Altruist and Recipient

Abstract

When the cost of altruism is low, individuals are more likely to help non-kin (i.e., friends and romantic partners) than kin. This trend is thought to reflect the fact that people tend to be emotionally closer with friends and romantic partners than kin. However, as the cost of altruism increases, altruistic preference shifts to kin. The present study highlights this phenomenon by examining altruism between siblings, romantic partners, romantic partners who have biological children together, and romantic partners who have adopted children together. Participants (n = 203) completed a questionnaire about altruism in low-, medium-, and high-cost situations. Participants gave more low-cost help to their romantic partners (regardless of whether they had a child together) than their siblings. More medium-cost help was given to romantic partners who had a child (biological and adopted) than siblings and romantic partners without children. In the high-cost condition, the estimated altruistic tendencies were stronger toward siblings and romantic partners who have a biological child than toward romantic partners with no children and partners with adopted children. Participants also believed they were more altruistic than their siblings and romantic partners.

Whose Life Do You Save? Factors Associated With Gender Differences in Altruism Toward Romantic Partners Versus Genetic Relatives

“…This is the first time in the literature that gender differences in altruism between romantic partners and relatives in a sample of young adults are so consistently, extensively, and precisely reported. Previous research either did not find any gender differences among participants (Stewart-Williams, 2008; Fitzgerald et al, 2010), just found them in middle-aged and older samples (Neyer & Lang, 2003), or for a single relative type, namely offspring (Hernández Blasi & Mondéjar, 2018). The results are consistent with, on the one hand, an evolutionary perspective that emphasizes variables like the degree of genetic relatedness and the reproductive value to understand altruistic behavior, as well as the role of women as “kin-keepers” (Hames, 2015) and with, on the other hand, psychology and economics theorizing and evidence suggesting that men and women behave, feel and think differently with respect to helping behavior (Eagly & Crowley, 1986; Falk & Hermle, 2018; Gilligan, 1982).…”

“…Finally, we believe it would be interesting to provide some complementary information about romantic partners and relatives in the questionnaire, such as relatives' gender, and the number children of a romantic partner and relatives. As previous research work has demonstrated (Fitzgerald et al, 2010), the participants' decision making might change in hypothetical life-or-death situations in accordance with romantic partners having children or not. It might also be wise to increase the hypothetical age of older romantic partners: most 25-year-old romantic partners have a higher reproductive value than 40year-old ones, but the reproductive value of a 40-year-old women and a 40-year-old man are not likely equivalents.…”

“…However, this sort of disturbing dilemma has already been addressed in experimental research based on hypothetical life-or-death scenarios, and often from an evolutionary perspective (see, e.g. Burnstein et al, 1994; Fitzgerald et al, 2010; Stewart-Williams, 2007; 2008).…”

“…Yet, when the cost of hypothetical help was high (e.g., donate a kidney), the participants exhibited more willingness to help romantic partners and siblings than friends, although they revealed feeling emotionally closer to romantic partners and friends than to siblings. In addition, Fitzgerald et al (2010) reported that responses could change depending on whether romantic partners shared a child or not. Specifically, when the cost of real help was low, romantic partners received more help than siblings, regardless of them sharing a child or not.…”

The Relationship Between Prosocial Music and Helping Behaviour and its Mediators: An Irish College Sample

“…instance, Stewart-Williams (2007) classified helping behaviours as either low (e.g., emotional support), medium (e.g., help during illness, providing financial support) or high cost (e.g., donating a kidney). Fitzgerald, Thompson, and Whitaker (2010) attempted to measure helping behaviour directed towards kin and non-kin based on cost of helping. To assess high-cost helping, participants were asked how willing they would be to donate a kidney to their kin or to save them from a burning building.…”