There are, in death and bereavement, many forms of coherent narratives that may be created that allow the mourner to become more active and altruistic.
The assertion that the same mechanism overcomes selfish motives by creating altruistic ones is more tenuous.
In a sense then, altruistic acts become more so, the more costly they are for the person performing them.
Another has been confidence that evolutionary theorists have available adequate explanations for the existence of apparently altruistic behavior.
The parent's donation is not altruistic because altruistic acts are not obligatory but optional, and they are motivated solely or primarily by other-regarding concerns.
But it is not possible to determine that a separate altruism mechanism exists by the absence of reinforcement (immediate or delayed) of particular altruistic acts.
Acts that appear altruistic may turn out to serve self-interest indirectly when account is taken of side-effects (rewards and punishments), or delayed effects (reputation).
Higher persistence is associated with larger (absolute) tax elasticities, even if the model allows for altruistic bequests.
