This definition is given by psychology, and in the ethical concept - altruism, is understood as the opposite concept of selfishness. I want to clarify that selfishness in the ethical concept is behavior, according to which personal interest is regarded as something higher. Thus, altruism and selfishness have opposite meanings, as evidenced by the information given above. But sometimes between these two concepts can be traced a close relationship. What kind of connection is this, which seems to connect two completely different concepts. But in life there are situations when the altruistic motive looks more like a selfish one. Something similar can be seen in the essence of the popular proverb - from love to hate one step. When people with altruistic behavior towards their neighbors show great love, this is love.
Thus, in some conflicts of the unconscious, altruistic behavior mostly acts as a defense. And under the mechanisms of defense in psychoanalysis is understood unconscious actions that protect against attacks from the reality and inner peace of the person. In this definition, the concept of attack means, for example, jealousy, jealousy, fantasy, dream, dissatisfaction and so on. So in what cases will altruism be selfishness? Altruism will be selfishness in cases where rationalization, reactive education, altruistic subordination, altruistic renunciation and neurotic love will take place. I would like to elaborate on each one in more detail. The concept of rationalization has the following definition: it is a person's explanation of actions and thoughts that allow him to justify and hide their true motivation. That is, a person consciously selects some logical explanations for certain actions that conceal a completely different motive behind him.
The next concept of reactive formation means the displacement of inconvenient thoughts or replacing them with other more convenient for life. For example, children who, during their teenage years, showed aggression toward their mother, tend to tend to tend towards it. These people are characterized by obtrusiveness, their behavior is more like a demonstration. Altruistic submission is subordination in favor of others to one's own instincts.
An example of such behavior are women who have never had their children, are treated with hyperopeak to children of relatives, acquaintances. Altruistic submission is the complete opposite of altruistic renunciation. This behavior is peculiar to the third superfluous in the love triangle, when the rivals become, are very devoted to each other. And the last concept is neurotic love, which means human behavior is boundless and constantly giving love to other people, in response to which it wants to receive the same attitude. People who are characterized by this behavior need love, they tend to become meaningful in the lives of others. Thus, I would like to draw a line under all that has been said and draw some conclusions. Drawing conclusions from the above, involuntarily comes to mind the idea that really between altruism and selfishness one step. This model of behavior can be found in real life daily, including among our relatives. I hope this information will help to avoid misunderstandings that may arise.