CHARITY really does begin at home—at least with our closest
relatives.
To explain apparent altruistic behaviour, biologists came up with the idea
that people and animals help their kin so they can pass on their shared genes.
Until now no one has been able to show people really do behave this way.
George Fieldman’s team at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College asked
64 students to perform a strenuous skiing exercise in return for a small cash
reward. They had to crouch with their back to a wall and thighs parallel to the
ground. The longer they could hold this position,…
