Evolutionary theory postulates that altruistic behavior evolved for the return-benefits it bears the performer. For return-benefits to play a motivational role, however, they need to be experienced by the organism. Motivational analyses should restrict themselves, therefore, to the altruistic impulse and its knowable consequences. Empathy is an ideal candidate mechanism to underlie so-called directed altruism, i.e., altruism in response to anothers's pain, need, or distress. Evidence is accumulating that this mechanism is phylogenetically ancient, probably as old as mammals and birds. Perception of the emotional state of another automatically activates shared representations causing a matching emotional state in the observer. With increasing cognition, state-matching evolved into more complex forms, including concern for the other and perspective-taking. Empathy-induced altruism derives its strength from the emotional stake it offers the self in the other's welfare. The dynamics of the empathy mechanism agree with predictions from kin selection and reciprocal altruism theory.

中文翻译：

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让利他主义重新回到利他主义：同情心的演变。

进化论假设，利他行为是为了表现者的收益而发展的。为了使回馈收益发挥激励作用，有机体需要经历回馈收益。因此，动机分析应将自己限制在利他的冲动及其可知的后果上。同理心是建立所谓的定向利他主义（即响应他人的痛苦，需要或困扰的利他主义）基础的理想候选机制。越来越多的证据表明，这种机制在系统发育上是古老的，可能与哺乳动物和鸟类一样古老。感知他人的情绪状态会自动激活共享的表示，从而在观察者中产生匹配的情绪状态。随着认知度的提高，状态匹配演变为更复杂的形式，包括对他人的关注和观点的把握。移情诱导的利他主义是从情感上的利害关系中获得力量的，它为他人的福利提供了自我。移情机制的动态与亲属选择和互惠利他理论相一致。