OK, slight aside first. I was reading an article about “pathological altruism” in the New Scientist (this one though its behind a paywall). Basically its about how altruism can actually have bad side affects.
I disagree with a few things they say, but the first example they use to highlight this phenomenon seems just flat out wrong to me. They use the case of Carole Alden who was convicted of killing her husband in 2007 despite alleging she was a victim of spousal abuse. The authors claim that the support she receives to this day, despite the abundant evidence contradicting her story, is an example “pathological altruism”.
I’d say this is plain wrong. If what they say about the case its true (for the purposes of this post lets assume it is, I’ve no idea of the ins-and-outs it) then her support has nothing to do with “altruism”, and more to do with an inherent tendency in humans to support the “underdog” (i.e. the apparently weaker party against their more powerful opponent). This tendency can be found in all parts of society from sports (where, I think, the term may originate) to politics and culture.
Is there a scientific or technical term for this phenomenon ?
