Sociobiology

Sociobiology is a branch of biology that studies the social behavior of animals and humans from an evolutionary point of view. It seeks to explain phenomena such as aggression, altruism, reproductive success, and competition as adaptions acquired through natural selection. The aim of sociobiology is to uncover the biological basis for such behavior, as well as to understand the influence of environmental factors; for example, the presence of predators or food sources. It has been used to explain phenomena such as why some animals live in groups, why humans have languages and cultures, and why some species engage in cooperative behavior. Furthermore, it has had a major impact on fields such as evolutionary psychology, anthropology, and economics.