Which term refers to the scientific study of social behavior in animals and humans?

Which term refers to the scientific study of social behavior in animals and humans?

• A. Parasites
• B. Colony
• C. Sociobiology
• D. Psychology

Answer: (C)

Sociobiology is the study of how evolutionary forces shape social behavior in animals and humans. It asks why behaviors that affect reproduction and survival—such as cooperation, mating systems, parental care, aggression, and social hierarchies—persist and vary across species, by examining natural selection and genetic influences. This approach links biology with behavior across species, making it the best fit for the question. Parasites are organisms that live on or in a host and are not a field of study. A colony is a social grouping rather than a discipline. Psychology examines mental processes and behavior but tends to focus more on cognition than the evolutionary drivers of social behavior across species.

Sociobiology is the study of how evolutionary forces shape social behavior in animals and humans. It asks why behaviors that affect reproduction and survival—such as cooperation, mating systems, parental care, aggression, and social hierarchies—persist and vary across species, by examining natural selection and genetic influences. This approach links biology with behavior across species, making it the best fit for the question. Parasites are organisms that live on or in a host and are not a field of study. A colony is a social grouping rather than a discipline. Psychology examines mental processes and behavior but tends to focus more on cognition than the evolutionary drivers of social behavior across species.