Perhaps deep down we have a kindness gene...is it masked by a more powerful "survival" gene? I don't know...then again...as you eluded and as I have discovered some of my most powerful feelings inside come from helping someone...

Perhaps those strong positive feelings are a survival mechanism as they trigger positive chemical reactions within us...

I also realize we are what we learn...if one grows up in a mean and troubled environment...its what they learn...it can lead to anger and resentments and inability to be kind due to the hurt inside...then again other people go the other extreme in such situations...they become "super kind" in reaction to what they experienced and in some subconscious way make up for it...

The human species is influenced in many ways...its a balancing act in terms of where that leads in our behaviors...

Regardless I came to this conclusion a while back to help me get through all the "negative" stuff that seems to take front and center in all we hear and see...if the world overall wasn't at least 50% good...I don't think it would survive...frankly...the fact that the earth has over 7 billion people living on it...something must be going right!