The Role of Reputational Concerns in Pathological Altruism and Healthy Selfishness

Abstract

Human social behavior spans a continuum from self-serving actions to other-oriented sacrifices. Underlying these behaviors are reputational concerns, specifically rejection avoidance and praise seeking. However, it is unclear how reputational concerns relate to pathological altruism, which involves excessive, irrational self-sacrifice, and healthy selfishness, which prioritizes one’s own fulfillment with consideration of potential negative effects on others. This study examined whether rejection avoidance and praise seeking are associated with pathological altruism and healthy selfishness. Data were collected from 787 participants between the ages of 15 and 59. The results indicated that both rejection avoidance and praise seeking were positively correlated with pathological altruism and healthy selfishness, even after controlling for empathy. Most associations were stable across all ages, although the association between praise seeking and healthy selfishness was moderated by age. These findings provide initial empirical evidence that reputational concerns may drive individuals toward both pathological altruism and healthy selfishness. This result enhances the understanding of the motivational role of social evaluation in complex human social functioning.