Definition

1. Noun:
   • A branch of biology: Sociobiology is the scientific discipline that studies the biological basis of social behavior in animals, including humans.
   • Focus on evolutionary history: It examines how social organization and behaviors have evolved through natural selection.

Usage

• Sociobiology is used as a singular, uncountable noun to refer to the field of study itself.
• It is typically used in academic, scientific, and philosophical contexts.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The professor's research in sociobiology explores the evolutionary roots of altruism.
  • Critics argue that sociobiology may oversimplify complex human social structures.

Advanced Usage

• "Sociobiological" (adjective): Pertaining to or based on the principles of sociobiology.
  • His argument offered a sociobiological explanation for mating rituals.

Variants and Related Words

• Sociobiological (adj): Relating to sociobiology.
  • The sociobiological perspective was central to the debate.
• Sociobiologist (n): A scientist who specializes in sociobiology.
  • The renowned sociobiologist published a controversial theory.

Different Meanings

This term is highly specialized and is used consistently within its primary definition in biology and evolutionary science. It does not have common alternative meanings in general usage.

Synonyms

• Behavioral ecology: A closely related field focusing on the ecological and evolutionary basis for animal behavior.
• Evolutionary psychology: A related discipline that applies evolutionary theory to human psychology and behavior.

Idioms

There are no common idioms specifically using the word "sociobiology."

Phrasal Verbs

There are no phrasal verbs associated with the noun "sociobiology."

Noun

1. the branch of biology that conducts comparative studies of the social organization of animals (including human beings) with regard to its evolutionary history