Sexuality and Altruism

Altruism, the delusional state requiring that one gives as much as possible without requiring anything in exchange, does not preclude a situation of physical intimacy in which two romantically attached individuals actively give each other sexual pleasure, even leading to orgasmic release.

It is entirely possible for two altruists, each acting under a compulsion of selflessness, to give each other sexual pleasure and release. And neither of them, being altruists, would ever be able to complain that they're being shortchanged. If only one were afflicted with altruism, this still would not occur, because the altruist would give as much as possible, which would be highly unlikely to elicit that response, and an altruist could not complain about receiving less pleasure, so he or she would not give that response, either.

Two altruists would be sexually compatible, since each would always want to give the other more than he or she wants. They would thus fulfill each others' needs both to give and to receive (although they deny their need to receive pleasure.) But their relationship would be unhealthy in innumerable other ways.

An altruist with a selfish person would be fine at first. The selfish person would have all they needed because the altruist would give everything he or she had. The altruist would be happy at first, having found someone to receive the affection they desperately want to give, but would eventually become more and more unsatisfied because of their unfulfilled need to receive these same pleasures. Of course, the altruist would deny this unfulfilled need as long as possible, becoming more confused and miserable the whole time.

Of course, these are examples involving theoretical people at two extremes of a spectrum. Almost no one is at the far extreme of either end of the spectrum. Real people lie somewhere in between, but not necessarily in the middle.

The healthiest, most satisfying relationship would be one between two equals, each of whom is at approximately the center of the selfish/selfless scale. If each loved him/her self as much as his/her partner, they would each love themselves enough to receive, and even ask for, the physical (emotional, other, etc.) pleasures they needed, as well as to gladly give what their partner needed, and then some.

Does altruism have any effect on physical relationships? Definitely. Does altruism preclude physical relationships? No.