The term was coined in the 19th century by the founding sociologist and philosopher of science Auguste Comte, and has become a major topic for psychologists (especially evolutionary psychology researchers), evolutionary biologists, and ethologists.
ðə tˈɜːm wʌz kˈɔɪnd ɪnðə nˈaɪntiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi baɪ ðə fˈaʊndɪŋ sˌoʊsɪˈɑːlədʒˌɪst ænd fɪlˈɑːsəfɚɹ ʌv sˈaɪəns ˈɔːɡʌst kˈɑːnt, ænd hɐz bɪkˌʌm ɐ mˈeɪdʒɚ tˈɑːpɪk fɔːɹ saɪkˈɑːlədʒˌɪsts ɪspˈɛʃəli ˌɛvəlˈuːʃənˌɛɹi saɪkˈɑːlədʒi ɹᵻsˈɜːtʃɚz, ˌɛvəlˈuːʃənˌɛɹi baɪˈɑːlədʒˌɪsts, ænd iːθˈɑːlədʒˌɪsts.