Sociobiology, Chapter 9.26a: (SB aka "Behavioral Ecology") is the study of the biological basis of social behavior. It is claimed to offer genuine insight into the ultimate meaning of human life---the search for symbolic immortality. (Update: 15 Septr 2021.)
Two principles underlie SB: interaction, i.e., all phenotypes (physical resemblances, non-genetic, unique to individuals) derive from the interaction between genotype (DNA characteristics) and environment, and the centralr postulate which states that insofar as behavior reflects a component of genotype, individuals should behave so as to maximize inclusive fitness, a measure of the rate at which the individual passes on its genes, and the *inclusive*, meaning the sum of reproductive success of an individual and his relatives. So , all other things being equal, the more offspring with favored genes one has, the more one’s fitness or success for her or his role in life. And adding “inclusive”, i.e., “inclusive fitness,” says that one’s behavior will be explained by also maximizing the fitness of one’s genetic relatives like niece, nephew, etc. This will explain certain counter-intuitive behaviors like altruism (helping another for no apparent gain on your part). An additional point is what I call serendipitous altruism, i.e., helping another with no immediate fitness gain to self. Here it is explained by quid pro quo, or I help you now, you help me in future, i.e., cooperation.
Mate selection is explained by SB defining the female as the gender that produces the larger gametes (ova) in smaller numbers (one a month in humans) and the male as producing the opposite (tiny sperm in the billions). Therefore females shop for male donors who contribute the most to their fitness and they prefer monogamy because, having found that superior male, a female wishes to monopolize him while males are the more lusty, promiscuous and polygamist by nature in order to maximize each one’s inclusive fitness. And the degree of cooperation or friendliness is based on the degree of certainty of parenthood and the nearness of the genetic relation.
Sociobiology is concerned with conflict.. The success of one must be at the expense of another. A great deal of conflict and competition can be predicted, more so , if the individuals are unrelated and do not share genes.
Two ways to compete: 1) scramble competition, each individual attempts to get a max. number of reproductively relevant resources; Or in 2) contest competition each individual contests with others for resources. Territory is contested; also aggression—-its costs and benefits. The goal is always increasing inclusive fitness.
An SB view of aggression suggests several alternative strategies for defeated individuals, e.g., defeated Palestinians in Israel.: they can emigrate, disperse (Lose identity) or remain in the social group as marked subordinate individuals My advice is to integrate and assimilate and become invisible as former outsiders.
These SB effects are not obvious but almost always yield to the SB analysis of behaving to maximize inclusive fitness; and understanding SB can be very helpful in the understanding of behavior including international .
Sociobiology also explains why diseases may be carried on genetically: for example, Huntington’s chorea is passed to future generations because most of the signs and symptoms, and mortality from it occur after childbearing period and also because the gene carries a higher than normal degree of reproductive fitness so that pre-Huntington individuals have more offspring than normal. And schizophrenia continues to be passed on because its non-schizophrenia genotype (50% of the genotype) have a higher reproductive fitness than normal.
An evolving example of an SB explanation of seemingly crazy behavior is the U.S. President Donald Trump who seems to be acting crazily in not accepting contender Joe Biden’s electoral victory but, actually, Trump, at age 74, has tremendously maximized his fitness by his many offspring, his near polygamous incredibly eccentric, anti-social life; and he, personally, has little to lose and much to gain by refusing to accept being a “former” president, open to many lawsuits (if he stayed in place in NY). By reinventing himself as the unfairly deposed ruler he will be able to maximize profits for himself and family and flexibly relocate with retinue to enjoy and further maximize his few remaining years So SB analysis predicts that Trump will not concede and will leave the White House only when he is forced to, not of his own best-intentioned will (from the US standpoint). He is already legally ensconced in Fla, making it hard for creditors and plaintiffs to initiate or continue court cases and I predict we may see him legally relocated to a friendly foreign country among which there will be many based on his present strategy.
Sociobiology is a useful tool in psychotherapy based on its predictions on competition and conflicts in maximizing inclusive fitness at levels of the individual and its genes.
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