According to the Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis, what motivates helping behavior?

The Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis posits that empathetic feelings prompt individuals to engage in helping behaviors purely for the well-being of others, without any expectation of personal gain or reward. This theory suggests that when people are able to empathize with someone else's plight, they feel compelled to help that person out of genuine concern for their needs and suffering, rather than for reasons such as social recognition or reciprocity.

This understanding emphasizes the role of empathy as a motivational factor, indicating that the act of helping is driven by an intrinsic desire to alleviate others' distress. In this context, the notion of purely altruistic reasons underscores the belief that such helping behaviors can occur independently of any selfish motives.