15 Questions
What is a key characteristic of altruistic behavior?
It benefits the recipient at a cost to the performer.
What is the primary reason animals form social groups?
To increase survival and reproductive success.
What is an example of a social behavior in apes?
Hunting in groups for food.
What is a characteristic of social groups in both humans and animals?
They are located in the same general area.
What type of behavior benefits both the performer and the recipient?
Cooperative behavior.
What is a common activity among members of a social group?
Cooperating in activities.
What is a key difference between human and animal social groups?
Human social groups are more complex.
What is one benefit of dolphins hunting in groups?
They can trap a significantly larger number of fish
What is one cost of living in a group?
Increased competition for food and mates
What is kin selection?
When an individual helps its relatives to increase the survival of its traits
What is altruism?
A behavior that benefits the recipient at a cost to the performer
What is an example of kin selection in humans?
Donating a kidney to a niece or nephew
Why is it challenging for a sole predator to isolate one individual from a large group?
Because the group provides protection
What is one reason why individuals may be less likely to help others in a group?
Because they are less closely related
What is one type of cost associated with altruism?
All of the above
Study Notes
Social Groups and Social Behavior
- Social groups are formed by animals, including humans, to increase survival and reproductive success.
- These groups have certain characteristics, such as similar interests, geographic location, and shared activities.
- Examples of social groups in animals include apes living and hunting together, and goats with specific accents depending on their social group.
Costs and Benefits of Living in Groups
- There are two main benefits of living in groups: improved hunting success and improved protection from predators.
- Examples of improved hunting success include dolphins trapping more fish when hunting together, and lions teaming up to hunt large prey.
- Examples of improved protection from predators include the difficulty of a sole predator to isolate one individual from a large group, and the protection of a school of fish from a dolphin.
Costs of Living in Groups
- There are two main costs of living in groups: an increase in competition and an increase in the spread of diseases.
- Examples of increased competition include more mouths to feed, leading to competition for food, and competition for mates.
- Examples of increased spread of diseases include the easy transmission of illnesses from one individual to another in a close-knit group.
Altruism and Kin Selection
- Altruism is a behavior that benefits the recipient at a cost to the performer.
- Examples of altruism include a lifeguard or firefighter putting the well-being of others before their own.
- Kin selection is the concept of an individual choosing to help its relatives to increase the survival of its traits.
- Examples of kin selection include humans being more likely to donate a kidney to a relative than to a stranger.
Considerations for Altruism
- Individuals must consider three main items when it comes to altruism: energy cost, opportunity cost, and risk cost.
- Energy cost concerns the amount of energy required to perform an altruistic act.
- Opportunity cost concerns the other actions an individual may miss out on by performing an altruistic act.
- Risk cost concerns the increased chance of being injured or killed as a result of performing an altruistic act.
Learn about the four main types of social behaviors: altruistic, selfish, cooperative, and spiteful. Understand how they benefit or cost the performer and the recipient. This quiz focuses on altruism and its role in social groups.
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