Concepedia

A multiple-level model of evolution and its implications for sociobiology

Behavioral and Brain Sciences · 1981 · 283 citations · 115 references

TL;DR

Contemporary sociobiology assumes a single gene‑selection process, but this view is challenged by evidence of subsidiary evolutionary levels—development, learning, and socioculture—that bridge genes to complex behaviours. The study proposes a multiple‑level, multiple‑process evolutionary model to explain complex, learned, social behaviours that gene selection alone cannot account for. The model introduces three bridging levels—development, individual learning, and socioculture—that operate alongside gene selection to shape behaviour. The authors argue that individual learning is essential to culture, highlight differences between cultural and noncultural societies, and suggest the model can reconcile opposing sociobiology perspectives.

Abstract

Abstract The fundamental tenet of contemporary sociobiology, namely the assumption of a single process of evolution involving the selection of genes, is critically examined. An alternative multiple-level, multiple-process model of evolution is presented which posits that the primary process that operates via selection upon the genes cannot account for certain kinds of biological phenomena, especially complex, learned, social behaviours. The primary process has evolved subsidiary evolutionary levels and processes that act to bridge the gap between genes and these complex behaviours. The subsidiary levels are development, individual animal learning, and socioculture itself. It is argued that individual learning is pivotal to the derivation and biological analysis of culture. The differences between cultural and noncultural societies are stressed. It is concluded that such a multiple-level model of evolution can form the basis for reconciling opposing sides in the sociobiology debate.