Many things we say about altruism, and since I do not know where to start, I do it with a simple little pill. There are three types of altruism: participation, trust, normative.

The term altruism (from the Latin “alter” the other) indicates the quality (moral) interest to the welfare of their fellows. It is the opposite of selfishness. At the biological level is very important, since it enables the species to survive and progress, and is very present in almost all animals.

But what can we say about the causes?

Serge Moscovici argues that altruism may be declined in three forms.
1. Altruism Participatory

Are behaviors that promote the collective life of people belonging to the same community (family, church, nation, association, party, etc). They sacrifice their time and energy in favor of others with whom you share a belonging. One example is volunteering.

2. Altruism Trustee

That’s what the purpose of establishing a bond of trust and confidence “with the recipient, who must seal the bond with gratitude. An example is the neighborly relations. In this case the benefits of altruism are not reflected only on the recipient, but also on who made the gesture.

3. Normative Altruism

Based on the principles of responsibility and solidarity is dictated by social norms. Social norms is implicit (i.e., non-official) in which altruism is a “good”, but also the explicit rules, such as laws (eg layoffs, Pensions, etc).

The renowned Harvard University professor argues that the intelligences are well 7, and all different. Of course, each influences, as well as other factors affect all (self-esteem, motivation, etc), but are independent enough to be considered as nuclei of him. We could then get good performance in some areas, bad in others. Let’s see which are:

Logical-mathematical intelligence:
Is, say, the classic one, that of IQ. For many years it was thought that intelligence was just that? Concerning the ability to perform numerical calculations, solve logical problems (theoretical and practical).

Linguistic intelligence:
It is the ability to read and understand a text, to listen and understand a story, to produce a conversation with mastery of vocabulary, to learn foreign languages.

Spatial intelligence:
It is the ability to perceive distances and mental representations of orientation.

Musical intelligence:
It is the ability to produce music, perform with an instrument or by singing, to remember, to understand and to use them.

Body Intelligence:
Also called kinesthetic, is the ability to control body movements and handle objects. Of course all the powers of sports and dance are part of this skill.

Interpersonal Intelligence:
Concerning relations with others, empathy, the ability to create and maintain friendships.

Intrapersonal intelligence:
It’s that introspective, the ability to read and understand their emotions, the ability, in essence, to know and understand itself.