In this blog post, based on the debate titled “Is Rape an Adaptation?” presented in ‘Darwin’s Table’, I will proofread and edit a piece on how to interpret rape behavior from an evolutionary perspective, organizing it into a natural and easy-to-read format.
“Darwin’s Table” examines social phenomena from an evolutionary perspective, presenting both supporting and opposing arguments. In this post, I will examine the debate “Is rape an adaptation?” among the various social phenomena discussed in “Darwin’s Table.” This debate is particularly heated because rape possesses the dual characteristics of being both a sexual act and a violent act. Furthermore, there have long been diverse viewpoints on whether rape should be viewed as a form of social violence or understood from the perspective of reproductive behavior.
First, those who view rape as an adaptation interpret it as a form of reproductive behavior. Their argument is as follows: In fact, numerous studies report that a significant proportion of rape victims are women, while the majority of perpetrators are men. Furthermore, it has been reported that sexual violence tends to increase in contexts such as low educational levels, adverse socioeconomic conditions, war, or situations where social order has collapsed. In some animal species, such as the scorpion fly, forced copulation has been observed as a reproductive strategy. Based on these facts, proponents of the adaptationist theory argue that it is possible some men, who find it difficult to pass on their genes through normal means, may resort to rape as an instinctive behavior to ensure their genes are passed on to the next generation.
On the other hand, scholars who do not view rape as an adaptation regard it as a form of violence and a behavior learned within society and culture. They point out that while rape is mostly perpetrated by men, a significant number of sexual assaults occur against non-reproductive women or same-sex partners, which are unrelated to reproduction. They also argue that differences in rape crime rates across cultures are difficult to explain solely by biological instinct. If rape were an instinctive behavior aimed at spreading genes, chemical castration should be highly effective; however, various studies and debates regarding its actual effectiveness are still ongoing. Furthermore, research has shown that many rapists were exposed to repeated violence during childhood or experienced distorted sexual values and psychological issues. These facts support the view that rape is a behavior resulting from a complex interplay of social and psychological factors, rather than simply a strategy for passing on genes.
I particularly oppose the claim that rape is an adaptation. Rather, I believe that refraining from rape is the adaptation. There is ample evidence to support this. First, human societies have consistently prohibited and punished rape throughout their long history. A review of human history shows that punishments for rape have existed for thousands of years. It is reported that even in Gojoseon, approximately 4,000 years ago, the “Eight-Article Law” contained provisions punishing lewd acts, suggesting that strict social norms regarding sexual violence existed at that time. Furthermore, in both Greek mythology and the Bible, the rape of women is depicted as a sin. Given these examples, it is highly likely that those who commit rape were placed in a socially disadvantaged position, and one could argue that, in the long term, society has adapted in a direction that discourages rape.
In response to this argument, it could be countered that social regulation is a phenomenon that emerged only after the dawn of civilization—a period too short to be reflected in evolution—and that social norms are unlikely to influence genetic adaptation. However, the period since humans formed civilized societies has been very long, and social structures and human behavior have changed over countless generations. Furthermore, Richard Dawkins’ “meme” theory explains that culture also plays a significant role in the evolutionary process. Therefore, just as social activities influence human behavior and choices, it is difficult to completely rule out the possibility that, in the long term, such an environment may exert a certain influence on the evolutionary process as well. I believe that the decline in rape rates in modern society should not be viewed simply as a result of stricter social regulations, but rather interpreted as part of a process through which human society has shifted toward a stance that does not tolerate rape.
Second, there are far more animal species that do not engage in rape. In particular, when rape is viewed from the perspective of forced sexual intercourse, similar phenomena can be observed in the animal kingdom. Forced sexual intercourse is broadly classified into three types depending on the species. First, there are species in which forced intercourse has never been reported or is virtually nonexistent. The bonobo is a prime example of this. Second, there are species in which most sexual intercourse is forced. The blowfly is a well-known example of this. Third, there are species in which some sexual intercourse is forced and some is not. Humans and the scorpionfly mentioned earlier fall into this category. However, most species do not reproduce exclusively through forced intercourse, and there are quite a few species in which forced intercourse does not occur. If rape were an absolutely advantageous strategy for survival, it would be difficult to explain why species without instances of forced intercourse exist. Furthermore, the fact that even within the same species, there are more individuals that do not engage in forced intercourse suggests the possibility that refraining from rape may have been more advantageous for survival.
Sufficient counterarguments can be made regarding this as well. One might question whether human and animal behavior can be compared using the same criteria, and the argument that simple comparisons are difficult—given that each species has different survival strategies and environments—is persuasive. Nevertheless, it is difficult to view comparisons between human behavior and that of animals as entirely meaningless. This is because evolutionary theory itself is a discipline that seeks to understand humans and animals as part of a continuum. Furthermore, since rape is both a social behavior and one related to reproduction, animal examples are also worth considering. Even if we acknowledge that environments differ across species, the fact remains that the overwhelming majority of people in human society do not commit rape. Research findings showing that the patterns of sexual violence vary depending on educational level and socioeconomic circumstances also demonstrate that the social environment has a significant influence on behavior.
Finally, even if we assume that the genes of every individual act selfishly, it is not necessarily the optimal strategy for a weaker individual to engage in selfish behavior. From a man’s perspective, if rape occurs, his opportunities to pass on his genes to the next generation through normal relationships may actually decrease. From a woman’s perspective, she is forced into a situation where she must accept unwanted genes against her will. Therefore, it is likely that those who historically constituted the majority of society judged that socially regulating rape was a more advantageous approach for the maintenance and survival of the community. Furthermore, unlike in the past, women now have the means to prevent unwanted pregnancies thanks to advances in contraception and medical technology. In other words, an environment has been created in which the transmission of genes to the next generation is difficult to guarantee unless it occurs through normal reproduction based on a woman’s consent. Consequently, I believe the argument that some individuals, for whom normal reproduction is difficult, resort to rape to spread their genes has lost much of its persuasiveness in the context of modern society. This ultimately means that society has evolved into an environment where sexual relations based on a woman’s consent are more advantageous for both genetic survival and social adaptation.
Considering these three points together, it can be concluded that refraining from rape is adaptive. Of course, just because rape has decreased significantly compared to the past does not mean it no longer occurs. Even today, rape and sexual violence remain serious crimes in South Korea and countries around the world, and the harm they cause persists. However, in modern society, not only rape but also sexual harassment and various forms of sexual violence are strictly regulated by law, and the perception that these are socially unacceptable crimes is firmly established. Considering these points, it is more reasonable to view rape in modern society not as a survival strategy or adaptive behavior, but as a criminal act that is socially ostracized and legally punished. If we define adaptation as the process by which living organisms change to better survive in a given environment, then in modern society, behavior that respects the consent and rights of others can be said to be the adaptation best suited to the social environment.
