Altruism as a Defense

Anna Freud and Wishes That Never Die

Altruism is an important value across different cultures and religions. It’s socially desirable to be selfless. It’s seen as noble to show support, concern, and generosity toward others — without expecting a personal benefit.

But how altruistic is altruism? And can it be selfish?

Anna Freud (yes, the daughter of Sigmund Freud) explored how altruism can be used for the “selfish” purposes of fending off anxiety and fulfilling one’s own “forbidden” wishes. She called it Altruism as a Defense.

If you ask: How exactly does altruism help with anxiety and what about those “forbidden” wishes? I’ll walk you through Anna Freud’s idea in detail, so that you can walk away with a clear idea of how altruism as a defense works, why people use this defense, and its consequences.

Before we dive into Altruism as a Defense, a few words about Anna Freud.

Anna Freud

Imagine growing up in the shadow of t he man who invented psychoanalysis… and then…