Definition for View source for Selective altruism

Selective altruism occurs when a large group needs help, but help is provided for only one or a very few individual members of that group. For example, charities frequently make appeals for donations to help large groups, such as hungry children in an entire nation, but focus their appeal on one single individual. Many people do not feel empathy for the entire group, but will feel empathy for the individual. Therefore, many people will donate money or time to help a particular individual, but not to help a large group.