Sociobiology A level sociology socialization.pptx

Discussion of the treatment of nature and nurture in Sociology

1. Socio - biology & Evolutionary Psychology

2. Outcomes 2.1.2 Investigate various theoretical perspectives and viewpoints that attempt to explain culture a s well as cultural materialism and sociobiology.

3. Sociobiology was founded by E.O. Wilson (1929 - ) in his book: Sociobiology: The New Synthesis (1975) Sociobiology

4. Sociobiology According to Wilson : Sociobiology is the “scientific study of the biological basis of all social behaviour” (Wilson, 1975).

5. Sociobiology M any of the behaviors we believed were a result of the influence of parents, peers, society, etc… (the social environment), Wilson claims may really be the product of biology. Nature Nurture Sociobiology is definitely on the nature side of the nature-nurture continuum.

6. Sociobiology Genetically influenced behaviours include:

7. Aggression

8. Sexual behaviour

9. Altruism

10. Sociobiology By “biological basis,” Wilson is saying that these behaviours are caused by genes. This is somewhat like saying that many behaviours are “instinctual” rather than learned. For example, the sex instinct is really the same as saying there are genes that make us like sex (as well as genes that have created the appropriate body parts for it).

11. Sociobiology For Wilson, some genes are like biological programs (biograms) that are “executed” when provided with the right trigger (stimuli).

12. Sociobiology Wilson began as an entomologist – a scientist who studies insects. Specifically, he studied the social insects (ants, termites and bees), especially ants.

13. Sociobiology However, a very similar “science” (?) developed in the 1980s called… Like sociobiology, evolutionary psychology argues that human behaviour is shaped by genes and evolution. Evolutionary psych ology

14. One key contributor in evolutionary psychology is Richard Dawkins Evolutionary psych ology

15. Dawkins’ book, The Selfish Gene (1976) was quite popular . In it, Dawkins argues that we are all just temporary, “survival machines” built by genes for our own protection and reproduction. Evolutionary psych ology

16. Thus, despite our modern civilization , we still have within us inherited behaviours that date back to paleolithic times!* Sociobiology & Evolutionary psych ology

17. T his can explain many things: Why humans are still aggressive and war-like Why humans also sometimes cooperate and help each other (altruism) Why males and females differ in their sexual behaviour Why some people are shy and others extroverted Why males are better at some intellectual skills and females better at others Etc… Sociobiology & Evolutionary psych ology

18. Some believe:

19. Need paper & pen Please put title “Sociobiology”, date & name How would each of the following explain, consider, use Sociobiology? (3-5 points each - total out of 20) Functionalist: Society is stable when when parts are interrelated and work for people, serves a purpose Conflict Theorist Gaining power over others is priority Symbolic Interactionist : People create, maintain and modify culture in everyday life (through interactions) Feminist Striving for equality among genders, female perspective Post-modern How quickly society is changing since WWII, advancement of human race/society