Babies can tell nice guys
They too are socially inclined to like altruists
Our film industry has thrived for decades on stories that revolve around the good guy, the nice girl and the bad guy. The bad guy does not have to be a killer to be hated. But he needs to be untrustworthy, just what the good guy never is. Good guys in our fairy tales are handsome and brave. The second adjective usually means they are ready to lay down their lives for the good of others.
Society holds altruists in high esteem, and this might have deep-rooted evolutionary causes. A society thrives on cooperation between individuals. It is not difficult to envisage individuals ready to help others, even at their own cost and enhancing cooperation. But it is difficult to believe such traits could be inherent to humans and are not just by-products of a social life that punishes selfish behaviour and rewards altruism.
Karen Wynn and her group of researchers at the Yale University can tell we humans inherently prefer helping individuals. Karen