Behaviors believed to be altruistic
A) are behaviors that raise the fitness of another individual at the expense of the altruist's direct fitness.
B) may turn out on closer examination to produce personal gains in fitness that outweigh the cost to the actor.
C) have been demonstrated by mathematical modeling to be capable of spreading throughout a population.
D) all of the above.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Altruistic behaviors are those that benefit another individual at the cost of the altruist's own direct fitness. However, these behaviors can sometimes result in indirect personal gains that outweigh the immediate costs, and mathematical models have shown that such behaviors can indeed spread through a population. This is explained through concepts like kin selection and reciprocal altruism, which suggest that altruistic behaviors can enhance the overall genetic fitness of the altruist in certain contexts.

Behaviors Believed to Be Altruistic