SOCIOBIOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY

Sociobiology is the study of the biological bases of behavior in the c ontext of neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory. This review organizes the contribution of sociobiology to the understanding of human behavior a round a small number of major theoretical articulations. These include identification of the gene as the basic unit of selection; the concep t of inclusive fitness and the role of relatedness; models of reciproc al altruism and the concept of evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS); a nd the theory of optimal reproductive investment. Sociobiological and evoluntionary thinking is expected to affect sociology in a number of areas including sex and gender roles; the theory of collective action; and the elaboration of a richer and more complex model of human natur e.