Is True Altruism Possible from the Perspective Social Exchange Theory

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The Answer is According to the social exchange theory,we attempt to maximize our rewards and minimize our costs when interacting with others.Therefore,helping others depends on the cost-reward ratio for the self.People help others in situations in which they expect that helping will result in more rewards than costs.The rewards of helping can be many: relief of one's own distress,increased social approval,increased feelings of self-worth,and many others.There are also many potential costs of helping,from embarrassment to real physical harm.By definition an altruistic act is one that is carried out for another's benefit and does not count the cost to the helper.According to social exchange theory we always count the costs.Thus,it is not possible to be altruistic from this perspective.
[It is also possible to claim that altruism can be encompassed from this perspective but there should be a good rationale provided (e.g.,just because a helper is concerned about the cost-reward ratio for helping,this does not mean that this is the only motive or the biggest motivation).If the emphasis in a helper's motivation is the reward-cost ratio for the victim,to a greater extent than for the self,then the person is concerned about social exchange but is also being altruistic.]

Is True Altruism Possible from the Perspective Social Exchange Theory

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