Which of the Following is True of Group Selection

Question

Which of the following is true of group selection?
A) It is likely to occur in primates because they live in well-established social groups.
B) It is likely to occur in primates because certain behaviors benefit the whole group.
C) It is unlikely to occur in primates because certain behaviors may benefit the group to the detriment of the actor.
D) It is unlikely to occur in primates because they lack sufficient levels of group interaction for a group-oriented behavior to evolve.

Accepted Answer

Group selection, a concept in evolutionary biology, posits that natural selection can act at the level of the group, not just the individual. However, it is considered unlikely in many contexts because behaviors that benefit the group often come at a cost to the individual performing them. This cost to the individual can reduce their own fitness, making such altruistic behaviors less likely to be passed on to subsequent generations.