In this blog post, we will examine why altruistic behavior occurs from the perspective of selfish genes and how it has been sustained in human society.
I would like to take a look at the Korean drama Reply 1988, which kept me awake every night with excitement. This drama warmly depicts Korean society in the late 1980s and the relationships between families and neighbors, resonating with many viewers. In particular, the scene of the peaceful alley in Ssangmun-dong every morning appeared in every episode and became a symbolic image of the drama. The sight of Taki’s father and other fathers sweeping the alley may seem like a simple everyday activity, but it makes us think about many things.
In this scene, I would like to take a closer look at the actions of the fathers who clean the alley every morning. They give up 30 minutes of precious sleep on cold winter mornings and spend their energy cleaning the alley. Their selfless actions provide a clean environment for their neighbors, but they receive no compensation or recognition for their efforts. These actions continue even though they may be detrimental to the individuals themselves. So why do they behave this way? This question leads us to explore the fundamental reasons behind what we define as “selfless behavior.”
However, there are often cases in dramas where the opposite of altruistic behavior can be found. For example, Dong-ryong runs away while cleaning the alley with his father, and there are cases where a father does not clean because he thinks, “It’s okay if I don’t clean for a day.” These scenes show how behaviors such as free riding and betrayal appear in human society. In situations where people can gain without losing, why do people still choose to act altruistically? Furthermore, how have altruistic people been able to survive in a highly competitive society? We will try to find answers to these questions through the kin selection hypothesis.
The kin selection hypothesis is a theory proposed by biologist William Hamilton in 1963. This hypothesis explains the cause of altruistic behavior from the perspective of the prosperity of one’s offspring and relatives. Although altruistic behavior causes me harm, it indirectly benefits me because it helps the offspring and relatives who share my genes to thrive. For example, worker bees sacrificing their lives to protect the queen bee and her eggs can be explained by the kin selection hypothesis. Parents providing material and emotional support to their children for decades until they become independent is another important example of this hypothesis.
To gain a deeper understanding of the reasons behind altruistic behavior, it is important to look at it from the perspective of genes. From the perspective of genes, humans are merely vehicles for passing on genes, and genes have the ultimate goal of replicating and reproducing themselves. Therefore, genes induce altruistic behavior necessary for the prosperity of their offspring. Such behavior ultimately increases the survival and replicability of genes.
However, the kin selection hypothesis is not a perfect theory that explains all altruistic behavior. Tim Clutton-Brock, a biologist at Cambridge University, has presented a critical view of this hypothesis. While observing animal groups such as meerkats, he discovered that altruistic behavior also occurs in individuals who are not related by blood. In a group of meerkats, they take turns keeping watch, and when an intruder appears, the meerkat that sends a warning signal sacrifices itself for the group, even though it is more likely to be attacked because it is visible. This behavior is unrelated to kinship, which is difficult to explain by the kin selection hypothesis. In fact, in human society, we often engage in altruistic behavior for strangers. Examples include small acts such as tidying up a stranger’s shoes at a restaurant or holding the door open for the next person when entering a building.
Therefore, we examined why altruistic behavior occurs and how it has been sustained in human society through the kin selection hypothesis. Humans engage in altruistic behavior for the sake of their offspring’s prosperity, in accordance with the goal of their genes to reproduce as much as possible. In particular, when altruistic behavior is directed toward relatives and offspring who share the same genes, those genes are more likely to survive. Although the kin selection hypothesis does not fully explain altruistic behavior toward non-family members, it provides important clues to understanding why altruistic humans were able to survive in competitive societies. Furthermore, this hypothesis still contributes greatly to our understanding of the complexity and diversity of altruistic behavior.
