At the center of _____ is the assumption that people's actions are motivated primarily by some degree of self-interest.

A) altruism
B) the functional approach
C) the empathy-altruism model
D) a communal orientation

The functional approach assumes that people's actions are motivated primarily by some degree of self-interest. Altruism, on the other hand, assumes that people's actions are motivated by a desire to help others, without regard for personal benefit. The empathy-altruism model suggests that empathy can sometimes lead to purely altruistic behavior, while a communal orientation emphasizes the importance of group welfare over individual self-interest. None of these concepts align with the idea that self-interest is the primary motivator of human behavior, except for the functional approach.