<p>This is a cultural/situational phenomenon.
I know that in my parents' generation (which grew up with poverty), it is common courtesy to never take the last piece of cake/whatever. The host always has to make sure there's plenty, because 1 piece left means that people are still hungry.
Nowadays most people (in my culture and generation) are not so hesitant.</p>

<p>My mother has told me about this, and said that is was some kind of social taboo to take the last piece. 
I believe it's about not being perceived as greedy or desperate, and rather show altruism through sacrifice and sharing. 
The more sought-after an object is, the more valuable it will be. The poorer people are, the more valuable all kinds of food, cake etc will be. 
The higher the value of an object, the more egocentric you have to be to claim it for yourself without sharing.
Thus people leave the last bit to avoid being seen as greedy or desperate, as greedy people will be seen as a burden in a poor society. Looking desperate makes you look like you can't take care of yourself.</p>

<p>In my own culture and generation, food is plenty everywhere, the perceived value is low, and you usually won't be seen as greedy if you take the last piece. 
If you are eating with friends and family, you might still chose to stay off the last piece, because "maybe someone wants it more than me". 
It's about sharing with those that you care for.</p>

<p>In evolutionary pscyhology, this makes good sense. Science has already shown that people with altruistic genes and behavior are perceived as more attractive (<a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081014134027.htm" rel="noreferrer">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081014134027.htm</a>), and our ancestors had a better chance surviving if they cooperated instead of competing for resources.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-18T20:34:18.673Z
I agree with the culture thing - I heard the very same thing in the context of Chinese culture, where it's apparently rude to take the last of anything. The  "guests are still hungry" statement makes this tradition a lot clearer - if they werent hungry, there would be more than 1 left.
Alex Stone
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-02T14:55:09.007Z
2015-03-02T14:55:09.007Z
Berit Larsen
<p>In many contexts (family, colleagues, etc), say there is a box of donuts for people to take (or any kind of treat or snack). A lot of the times we can observe that there will be only one left and people just avoid taking the last one.</p>

<p>Is there a psychological theory/reasoning behind this?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-12T00:34:25.857Z
Sounds like a job for our in-house expert on Evolutionary Game Theory.
Chuck Sherrington
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-03T09:57:19.527Z
If I don't take it, it's because someone else might be more hungry and in need of that last donut...
MmM
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-16T18:25:13.943Z
Summarizing both [answer 1](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/a/9422/20271) by user7759 and 
[answer 2](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/a/9438/20271) by Berit, a person would only feel it reasonable to eat the last donut if he/she believes it will not hurt his/her position in the group i.e. either the donuts are easily available or noone else is hungry and atleast if noone would know who ate the last donut. The roots to this behaviour can be traced back to evolutionary psychology wherein showing altruism and empathy are more desirable traits in a group. In current socie
Savitoj Cheema
<social-psychology><consumer-psychology><norms>
Why do people avoid taking the last "donut"?
LulalaBoss
# Why do people avoid taking the last "donut"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-11)

In many contexts (family, colleagues, etc), say there is a box of donuts for people to take (or any kind of treat or snack). A lot of the times we can observe that there will be only one left and people just avoid taking the last one.

Is there a psychological theory/reasoning behind this?

**Tags:** social-psychology, consumer-psychology, norms

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Sounds like a job for our in-house expert on Evolutionary Game Theory.  
> **username_2**: If I don't take it, it's because someone else might be more hungry and in need of that last donut...  
> **username_3**: Summarizing both [answer 1](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/a/9422/20271) by user7759 and  [answer 2](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/a/9438/20271) by Berit, a person would only feel it reasonable to eat the last donut if he/she believes it will not hurt his/her position in the group i.e. either the donuts are easily available or noone else is hungry and atleast if noone would know who ate the last donut. The roots to this behaviour can be traced back to evolutionary psychology wherein showing altruism and empathy are more desirable traits in a group. In current socie  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-03-02. Score: 8

This is a cultural/situational phenomenon.
I know that in my parents' generation (which grew up with poverty), it is common courtesy to never take the last piece of cake/whatever. The host always has to make sure there's plenty, because 1 piece left means that people are still hungry.
Nowadays most people (in my culture and generation) are not so hesitant.

My mother has told me about this, and said that is was some kind of social taboo to take the last piece.
I believe it's about not being perceived as greedy or desperate, and rather show altruism through sacrifice and sharing.
The more sought-after an object is, the more valuable it will be. The poorer people are, the more valuable all kinds of food, cake etc will be.
The higher the value of an object, the more egocentric you have to be to claim it for yourself without sharing.
Thus people leave the last bit to avoid being seen as greedy or desperate, as greedy people will be seen as a burden in a poor society. Looking desperate makes you look like you can't take care of yourself.

In my own culture and generation, food is plenty everywhere, the perceived value is low, and you usually won't be seen as greedy if you take the last piece.
If you are eating with friends and family, you might still chose to stay off the last piece, because "maybe someone wants it more than me".
It's about sharing with those that you care for.

In evolutionary pscyhology, this makes good sense. Science has already shown that people with altruistic genes and behavior are perceived as more attractive (<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081014134027.htm>), and our ancestors had a better chance surviving if they cooperated instead of competing for resources.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: I agree with the culture thing - I heard the very same thing in the context of Chinese culture, where it's apparently rude to take the last of anything. The  "guests are still hungry" statement makes this tradition a lot clearer - if they werent hungry, there would be more than 1 left.  

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