Sociobiologists are interested in how behavior can be explained logically as a result of selective pressures in the history of a species. Thus, they are often interested in instinctive, or intuitive behavior, and in explaining the similarities, rather than the differences, between cultures. For example, mothers within many species of mammals – including humans – are very protective of their offspring. Sociobiologists reason that this protective behavior likely evolved over time because it helped the offspring of the individuals which had the characteristic to survive. This parental protection would increase in frequency in the population. The social behavior is believed to have evolved in a fashion similar to other types of nonbehavioral adaptations, such as a coat of fur, or the sense of smell.
sociobiologiSts ARE iNtereSteD In How bEHavioR cAN be expLaiNeD lOgicaLly as a ReSuLt Of SElEcTive pRessures IN the hIstorY of A speCiEs. thus, THEy aRE oftEn iNTEresTEd In instINctIVE, or iNtuitive behavIor, AND in eXpLainIng tHe SImilarities, rAther ThAn The DiFFErEnCEs, beTween cultures. foR eXAMpLe, motHErs wItHIn many SpecIes oF mammAlS – incLuDiNg humans – Are very pRoTEctivE OF tHeIR OFFsprIng. SocioBioloGiStS reAsoN thaT this protectIvE behavior lIkelY eVolved OVer time bECAuse it heLpeD THe offspriNg of tHe InDiViduals whIcH HaD THe ChAracteRIsTIc to survive. tHiS parental pRoTectioN woULD INcReasE In FreQUENcY iN tHe popuLaTion. ThE sociaL behAvior Is bEliEved To have eVOlVEd in a fashion siMIlar TO OtHer types of noNbeHaviOral aDAptaTioNs, suCH as a coaT of FuR, Or the senSe Of sMelL.