What is the difference between sociobiology and evolutionary psychology?

Social Psychology (10th Edition)
10th Edition
ISBN:9780134641287
Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Publisher:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Chapter1: Introducing Social Psychology
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What is the difference between sociobiology and evolutionary psychology?

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INTRODUCTION

Sociobiology and evolutionary psychology are the two different fields of study that are developed recently as disciplines. Though they seem to be the same due to the object of their analysis, they differ from one another due to their independent perspectives of looking at the object.

EXPLANATION

 

Sociobiology: Sociobiology is a newly emerging discipline. It was initially coined by the American biologist Edward O. Wilson in his book on sociobiology. This discipline focuses on a systematic study of social behavior from its biological basis. It studies every social behavior like the animals, including human beings. It says that social behavior is due to several biological processes. The genes play a major role in transmitting the behavior of one generation to another generation. It provided several insights in understanding animal social behavior. The altruistic behavior in some animal species is due to being selfish because it benefits the individual who is genetically associated with the individual performing altruistic behavior. It explains the many social behaviors in terms of their adaption of value towards reproduction.

Evolutionary psychology: this discipline focuses on human behavior but from a different perspective. It focuses on how the mind and behavior are shaped in the evolutionary process. The human brain consists of many functional mechanisms, which are evolved cognitive mechanisms designed by the natural selection process. Human behavior is considered as the result of several psychological processes in the brain. The human or animal performs the behaviors are directed by the internal processes which are already experienced by the ancestors.

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