If group selection explains altruism, it could also explain masochism
Why are humans (to varying degrees) altruistic? This question has long fascinated biologists and economists. There are multiple evolutionary models explaining the development of altruism, but they generally boil down to group selection, in which groups rather than individuals are subject to selective pressure. Nature prefers genetically-related groups that cooperate with each other, so individual humans are disposed to behave in ways that reduce their own survival/reproductive chances, if doing so favors the survival/reproduction of their kin. In game-theoretic terms, because life resembles an Iterated Prisoners’ Dilemma, given enough time, the only prisoners left in the game are those who cooperate with each other.
Why are humans (to varying degrees) masochistic? This question primarily fascinates psychiatrists. But if group selection explains altruism, it could also explain masochism. From the perspective of a group, masochism at the individual level is a feature, not a bug. In a Prisoners’ Dilemma game, the players will reach the win-win outcome if they cooperate, but also if they are masochistic. Altruism and masochism are equally good at producing the optimal equilibria! And masochism is easier because it works in situations where cooperation cannot be coordinated.
As far as I can tell (as of 2022) there is no prior behavioral genetics literature explaining masochism through the lens of group selection. The potential connection between altruism and masochism is of interest only to the psychoanalysts, and even they are generally skeptical. For example, Seelig & Roth (2001) have the following to say:
Even when an author wished to retain a place for normal altruism, as Simons (1987) did in a panel of the American Psychoanalytic Association on psychoanalytic contributions to psychiatric nosology, altruism is regarded as a subcategory of masochism. Simons defines altruism as a normal form of masochism. We believe, however, that it is clinically and heuristically useful to distinguish altruism from masochism.
It would be desirable to ground this hypothesis on the objective basis of behavioral genetics rather than on psychoanalytic speculation. First, we should find out whether altruism and masochism are correlated phenotypically and genetically. Next, we could look for evidence of selection (both purifying and positive selection). Finally, we could look for colocalization of altruism-linked variants and masochism-linked variants.
Seelig, Beth J., and Lisa S. Rosof. “Normal and pathological altruism.“ Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association 49.3 (2001): 933-959. https://doi.org/10.1177/00030651010490031901
Simons, Richard G. “Psychoanalytic contributions to psychiatric nosology: Forms of masochistic behavior.“ Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association 35.3 (1987): 583-608. https://doi.org/10.1177/000306518703500303