What does helping actually mean? Helping is highly dependent on the prevailing social system. In its origin—in a very simple social system with little interaction between social groups and low complexity—“helping” can be seen as mutual assistance focused on meeting basic needs. Someone finds themselves in an emergency, and because the parties involved know each other, a helping action is triggered. The participants understand that, due to the “close” relationship, the help is reciprocal: I help you so that next time you will help me. This form of helping is not yet institutionalized and is closely tied to gender and age roles. At that time, at least with regard to caregiving activities, women were generally responsible, and the younger generation cared for and helped the older. Helping could then, in a narrower sense, be understood as a gift.