Moral codes are unnecessary

[hmkpoker]

A little background before I propose this statement. I am agnostic/atheist, grew up Christian, dabbled in Eastern religion in highschool, majored in psychology and minored in religion in college and just got my BA.

Psychology currently views personal development as something that occurs with broadening social horizons. For example, when we are born, we are selfish to the extent that we don't believe that the world exists when we close our eyes. As children, we are selfish and constantly make fun of others with little or no remorse. As we grow older, we become able to love, feel compassion, act responsibly and, assuming that we develop "properly," eventually the concerns of others and humanity outweigh our own and we become capable of altruism.

ok so here goes...

If humans are genetically "programmed" to benefit from what is beneficial to others, such that it is, in a sense, +EV to help someone else, is there any reason to have a moral code?

I think that a moral code is useful only as a guideline during our selfish years, but eventually it becomes superfluous, unnecessary...maybe even counter-productive.

Thoughts?