Sociology is a recently developed academic disciple, particularly popular in the United States, based upon the tenet that all animal and human behavior is ultimately dependent upon genetic encoding molded evolutionary history by the process of selection. This all- encompassing theme, according as it does with many common-sense assertions about human nature, is sufficient to have attracted an enormous quantity of media attention. The spotlight has focused particularly on its most well-known popularizing authors: Edward O Wilson, who coined the term itself in his Sociobiology; The new synthesis and Richard Dawkins, author of the Selfish Gene. Wilson an American biologist and authority on ant behaviour, also provided the first definition of the social behaviour.

In the mid of 1970s sociobiolgy brought together into a supposedly coherent theoritical synthesis the work of previous authors on the relationship between animal and human behaviour, including Konrad Lorenz, Robert Ardrey, and Desmong Morris. It was anticipated, at least by Wilson, that all social and biological sciences would eventually be regarded merely as branches of sociobiology. Unsurprisingly, many sociologists and anthropologists have been deeply suspicious of the ultimately all encompassing claims of this synthesis, and have drawn attention to the enormous cultural diversity of human societies -a diversity which challenges the frequently androcentric and ethnocentric assumptions of much sociobiological writing. For example, serious questions have been raised by Marshall Sahlins concerneing the theoritical adequacy of sociobiology, and its claims to be respectable academic disciplein in its own right. Many social scientists have challenged its use of scientific evidence. Others have linked the emrgence of sociobiolgy in the Unites States to a conservative backlash against the radicalism of the 1960s.

The general response of sociobiologists to these criticisms has been gradually to admit more that is environmental into their analytical framework, whilst still retaining an adherence to the ultimate determining effect of biology, at least in any aspect of behaviour attributed with evolutionary significance. Wilson for example has more recently argued that gens hold culture ona long leash. Whilst some academic abalysis has become relatively sophisticated and complex, the level at which much sociobiologists argument in expressed remains alarmingly reductionist.