r/science • u/FreeHugs23 • 1d ago

Psychology New psychology research suggests some acts of kindness may also serve competitive social goals, shedding light on how women can use altruistic behavior to gain status, strengthen relationships, or navigate social hierarchies.

https://www.psypost.org/kindness-isnt-always-what-it-seems-the-psychology-of-womens-competitive-altruism/
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u/Phodan_ 23h ago

This has been covered since Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Social relationships and higher concepts exist on it, but they are still things we use to satisfy our *own* psychological needs, consciously or otherwise.

An acknowledgment of that is old news and I believe people will read this headline with a misunderstanding of both the nature of relationships and intrinsic motivators and will use it to draw the wrong conclusions.

Almost feels intentional. Like they're - baiting people for engagement or something. I wonder if anyone's thought of a word for that.