Social Behaviour

Social behavior encompasses actions and interactions between two or more individuals of the same species, influenced by others' presence (actual, imagined, or implied) and shaped by culture, biology, and environment, including cooperation, competition, altruism, conformity, and communication, playing crucial roles in group dynamics, development, and societal structure. 

Key Aspects

• Interdependence: Behavior is influenced by the actions or presence of others within a species.

• Context-Dependent: Actions vary based on the social and cultural setting, from public interactions to private life.

• Learned: Many social behaviors are learned through social experiences and cultural norms. 

Types of Social Behaviors

• Cooperation: Working together for a common goal.

• Competition: Vying for limited resources or status.

• Altruism: Helping others without expecting direct rewards (prosocial behavior).

• Communication: Exchanging information, a fundamental aspect of social interaction.

• Conformity: Adjusting behavior to fit group norms.

• Affiliation/Friendship: Forming bonds and seeking closeness.

• Aggression/Antisocial Behavior: Harmful or disruptive actions.

• Reciprocity: Expecting a return for favors given. 

Importance

• Social Cohesion: Builds and maintains group structures and norms.

• Survival & Development: Essential for individual and species survival, growth, and adaptation.

• Cultural Transmission: Shapes and passes down cultural practices and values. 

Influencing Factors

• Cognitive Processes: Thinking and understanding social cues.

• Genetics: Inherited predispositions.

• Environment: Physical surroundings and cultural context.