Abstract
Altruism is a central component of volunteering, which is the main leisure activity in which this behavior/attitude is found. Voluntary altruism is the focus here, it being far more common than pure altruism. Quasi-volunteer altruism is also considered. Three distinct emotions are commonly aroused in altruistic behavior: compassion, generosity, and gratitude. Gratitude is a main reward, a kind of satisfaction that volunteers often look for from the target of their benefits. Eighteen theoretic types of volunteering as leisure are examined, followed by a discussion of a variety of community sectors that attract volunteer activity. Committees and boards of directors are discussed, after which the social worlds and the geographic spaces of volunteering are explored. The chapter ends with an examination of the careers available in career volunteering.
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© 2015 Robert A. Stebbins
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Stebbins, R.A. (2015). Altruism. In: Leisure and Positive Psychology: Linking Activities with Positiveness. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-56994-3_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-56994-3_6
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