In this blog post, we will examine the process by which altruistic individuals are formed, focusing on the “birds of a feather flock together” hypothesis presented in ‘The Emergence of Altruistic Individuals’, and explore its significance and limitations.
If we think of Korea’s leading independence activists—Kim Gu, Yoon Bong-gil, and Lee Bong-chang—as well as Mother Teresa and Father Lee Tae-seok, who dedicated their lives to humanity, we can identify a common thread. They lived their lives willingly sacrificing themselves for others or for the community. We often refer to such individuals as people who lived altruistic lives. Of course, there are many others besides them who lead altruistic lives. This naturally leads us to wonder: How were these people able to live such lives, and how did they become the kind of people they were? The question, “How were they able to be so altruistic?” naturally comes to mind.
“The Emergence of the Altruistic Human” introduces various hypotheses explaining the background behind the emergence of altruistic individuals. Here, we will examine one of these hypotheses—the “birds of a feather” hypothesis—in a bit more detail. First, to understand this hypothesis, we need to accurately grasp the concept of “altruism.” Altruism means prioritizing the interests of others over one’s own when thinking or acting. Once you understand this meaning, the concept of altruism becomes much easier to grasp. Among the various hypotheses explaining the emergence of altruistic humans is the “birds of a feather flock together” hypothesis. This phrase refers to the phenomenon where people with similar dispositions or values tend to associate with one another, but you might wonder how this could explain the emergence of altruistic humans.
First, let’s examine the “birds of a feather flock together” phenomenon. People tend to form friendships more easily with those who share similar personalities, values, food preferences, and hobbies rather than with those who are very different from themselves, and they generally feel more comfortable in such relationships. This phenomenon has been observed in various social science and biological studies. For example, research has shown that when choosing a spouse, people tend to select someone who shares similar religious or political views. The “birds of a feather flock together” hypothesis explains that altruistic behavior also stems from this tendency. In other words, when people who share the same ideologies or beliefs cooperate and interact, they are more likely to produce better results. This principle applies not only to relationships between individuals but also to society as a whole. Consequently, altruistic people are more likely to cooperate with one another, while selfish people are more likely to associate with one another.
So how does this hypothesis explain the emergence of altruistic individuals? To understand this, let’s take group projects as an example. Many students are not fond of group projects. Whether they are middle school, high school, or college students, many feel burdened just at the mention of the term “group project.” One of the main reasons for this is free-riding by some group members. Of course, one cannot judge a person solely based on group projects, but it is difficult to have a favorable impression of a group member who fails to fulfill their responsibilities. Therefore, the next time they have the opportunity to freely form groups, the members who worked together will remember the free-rider and try to avoid being in the same group with them. As this situation repeats, a phenomenon emerges where diligent participants naturally gravitate toward one another, and those who repeatedly act as free-riders also tend to cluster together. This can be seen as an example of “birds of a feather flock together.”
Cooperative individuals who participate diligently in group projects are more likely to achieve better results by working together. On the other hand, groups composed of individuals who repeatedly free-ride will struggle to progress. Applying this to the relationship between altruistic and selfish people, altruistic individuals form positive communities through cooperation, while selfish individuals are increasingly likely to lose social trust and become isolated. Through these examples, the “birds of a feather flock together” hypothesis explains how altruistic communities can ultimately form as altruistic people come together and cooperate.
In summary, the emergence of altruistic individuals can be explained by the phenomenon of “birds of a feather flock together,” in which people with similar tendencies associate with one another. The topic of “the emergence of altruistic individuals” may be somewhat unfamiliar, as it is not something we encounter often in everyday life. However, this hypothesis is significant in that it allows us to more easily understand the process by which altruistic individuals are formed by approaching it through the familiar concept of “birds of a feather flock together.” Nevertheless, this hypothesis also has its limitations. If a society were composed solely of altruistic individuals, the thoughts and behaviors of its members might become too similar, making it difficult for creative ideas to emerge. Furthermore, the benefits of diversity—which arise when people with different backgrounds and dispositions live together—could potentially diminish. Conversely, numerous studies suggest that in a society where people with different dispositions coexist in an appropriate ratio, diverse perspectives and ideas can emerge, and this diversity has a positive impact on societal development. Therefore, while the “birds of a feather flock together” hypothesis holds some persuasive power in explaining the emergence of altruistic individuals, it has limitations when it comes to explaining the development of society as a whole. Ultimately, to gain a deeper understanding of the emergence of altruistic individuals, it is necessary to examine both the strengths and limitations of this hypothesis and to consider other explanations that can complement it.
