Humans are naturally selfish. No one wants to be disadvantaged in any way, so we tend to concentrate more on ourselves.
Oftentimes, we believe everyone should be left to figure things out for themselves. For this reason, certain people who do something for others without seeking a reward are referred to as dummies.
They believe that people should do things solely for the sake of receiving a reward.
However, we never run out of people who go all out for other people without seeking a reward. They do it for so many reasons, some of which are born out of compassion and love for humanity.
What exactly can we call these acts? In this article, we will be looking at 13 names you can call the act of doing something for others without expecting a reward.
13 Things To Call Act Of Doing Things For Someone And Expecting Nothing In Return
We know that the word “selfish” implies that a person is self-centered. However, the opposite of selfish, which is selflessness, is a perfect word for all these individuals.
Get ready for an interesting ride as we take a detailed look at the names we can ascribe to these individuals.
Below are 13 terms you can use to describe the concept of doing something for someone without expecting anything in return:
- Self-less
- Altruistic
- Virtuous
- Generous
- Sacrificial
- Philanthropy
- Kindness
- Benevolence
- Heroism
- Compassion
- Humanitarian
- Charitable
- Magnanimous
Selfless
A selfless individual is someone who genuinely and voluntarily improves the lives of others by attending to their needs without expecting anything in return.
In other words, selflessness is the act of putting the needs of others ahead of one’s own, without anticipating anything in return.
These individuals are often seen as being dumb or stupid by others because they act in a manner that doesn’t show self-care.
However, selfless people do not have that perspective about themselves. They wear the “selfless label” with so much confidence everywhere they go.
Altruistic
Altruistic is a personality type where someone gives up all they have for someone without seeking any benefit. In other words, it is a voluntary, costly, behavior motivated by the desire to help another individual.
Based on research, it has been proven that altruism is an inherited trait.
It is widely believed that human nature is fundamentally selfish because we are mostly concerned about our own welfare. However, the brains of autistic people are different in fundamental ways.
They are very sensitive to troubling situations and would not hesitate to help. Since this is a personality trait of altruistic individuals, they do not see the need for payback.
Virtuous
Vrituous is a term used to describe a person who does something without requiring a reward because of their personal values. They have the idea of self-regulation.
It is not the case that “there is somebody looking over your shoulder, making sure you are doing the right thing.” Their behaviors are based on the regulations they impose on themselves.
Virtuous people have a conception that doing things for other people without seeking to get a reward for it is what life ought to be like.
Since this is the kind of personality trait they desire to see in others, they taje the lead first. Virtuous people do not seek any form of validation or recognition before they do something.
Generous
A generous person is someone who gives abundantly without seeking a reward. They do not only give abundantly, but they also give their best.
Generous people act out of love or compassion for the course they are giving. For instance, if a generous person is compassionate towards children on the streets, they will do all they can to help them.
Also, it could be that they came into contact with homeless people who perch by the roadside at night. They are drawn by compassion for such people and quickly take action about it.
Generous people often take up projects for society and do not involve governmental bodies. This is because they feel the need to do it without the help or reward of the government.
Sacrificial
A sacrificial person is one who is ready to do anything for a course without accepting a reward afterwards. They never leave a place the way they found it because they’d do all in their power to make a change.
For instance, sacrificial people can take up a sanitation project in the community. Although the chaos was a contribution made by all the inhabitants of the area, sacrificial person takes it upon themselves.
They do it not from the standpoint of not gaining recognition or getting paid in return.
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who does things for people without expecting anything in return because they are well-to-do.
They are either businesspeople, politicians, or multi-millionaires who give to society without expecting anything in return.
Philanthropists usually have foundations that cater to the needs of the needy, addicts, school dropouts, sexually abused, and so on.
Their foundations are aimed at helping people become better, and by this, they provide help to humanity at large.
Kindness
Kindness is defined as the act of doing something for someone without expecting anything in return. Kind people believe that the act of kindness is the only thing in the world that doubles when you share it.
They exhibit this gesture not for themselves alone, but for everyone around them. It puts smiles, hope, and freedom on the faces of people.
It also attracts other individuals and makes them see the beauty of being kind-hearted. This alone is a rewarding feeling, and as such, they do not require any other reward.
Benevolence
Benevolence is the desire to freely give out to people who are in need of assistance without an expectation of being paid back.
Benevolent individuals believe that giving to people is a fundamental aspect of being humane. It is all about wanting the best for everyone around you and doing the little you can.
They give things in order to look out for people who aren’t even related to them in any way. It could be in the form of financial support or advice on a particular thing.
Benevolent people are all about helping people without seeing their relationship with them as a barrier.
Heroism
Heroism is defined as the act of doing something for someone or a group of people without expecting a reward. This act is often exhibited in the military, and these people are called heroes.
A hero is someone who steps up to a task not because they are asked to do so, but because they feel it is the right thing to do. Heroes give up their freedom and safety for other people’s freedom and safety.
Compassion
When someone does a thing without expecting something in return, they are regarded as compassionate. These individuals are driven by compassion towards the people around them. They mostly engage in charitable activities.
They aren’t only compassionate towards humans but can show care for animals. A compassionate individual won’t walk past a sick dog on the street simply because it’s not theirs.
They would incur every expense on themselves in order to get the dog well again and are not driven by the reward they’d get.
Humanitarian
“Humanitarian” means the love of humanity. It is the act of doing strategic things to affect the lives of people without needing anything in return.
They look beyond ethnic boundaries in order to fight for the rights of others. Above all, they think about the survival of the human race.
Humanitarians look out for environments that lack basic amenities and provide for them. They also consider places affected by natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and so on.
Generally, their aim is to make the world a better place by assisting people. Hence, they do not require payback for anything they do.
Charitable
Charitable is a word used to describe a person who is full of compassion and good intentions towards others. They embark on projects with the sole aim of providing aid to people, communities, and nations in need of it.
The most common charitable act is the motherless baby homes, which are established by well-meaning people to help children who were abandoned by their parents.
This act of charity is done with zero intention of receiving a reward for their kind gestures.
Magnanimous
Magnanimous is a word used to describe a person who has a large heart for others. They go out of their way to give to people in need of assistance.
Magnanimous individuals look past the wrong that someone has done to them and proceed to help them.
Even in situations where they aren’t financially able to be of help, magnanimous people go out of their way to find solutions.
All of their activities aren’t based on what they will get in return. They have everyone at heart and their ability to help is enough reward for them
Conclusion
In conclusion, the act of doing something for others is worthy of commendation. This is because not everyone can take on this courageous trait.
However, as explained above, there are many reasons why people prefer to behave this way, other than being all selfish.
In this regard, the names they are called are different. Not everyone who isn’t “reward-driven” can be called a philanthropist or magnanimous.
Endeavor to use a name that befits the person’s character. I believe you now understand what to call people who do things for others without expecting anything in return.
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