On the surface, the problem of attributing altruistic behaviour to evolution by natural selection is that
A) natural selection has not played an important role in human evolution.
B) from an evolutionary standpoint, altruistic behaviour seems unlikely to be favoured by natural selection.
C) altruistic behaviour is too subtle and too complicated a trait to be caused by evolutionary variables.
D) altruistic behaviour always increases the personal fitness of the altruist.
E) none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Altruistic behavior, where an individual may sacrifice its own interests for the benefit of others, appears counterintuitive to natural selection's principle of survival of the fittest. Natural selection typically favors traits that increase an individual's own chances of survival and reproduction, making the evolution of altruistic behavior a complex issue to understand within this framework.

On the Surface, the Problem of Attributing Altruistic Behaviour to Evolution