Biosociology
Tinbergen’s Four questions are challenging to answer because the answers are influenced by biology, sociology, and culture. Humans are part earth’s natural environment, but we are also a creature with a brain that can discern right and wrong. Tinbergern’s question assume that moral behavior evolves biologically and sociologically(Medicus, 2005, 25). The first question asks about causation and how an event can cause a behavior. In terms of sociology an individual’s brain and the atoms, molecules and other organic materials initiate a thought that is carried by nerves to the attention of the human (25). But in terms of biology causation is due to heredity or to age, for example (28). Secondly, “psychomotor ontogenesis” maybe ruled by a range of factors from hormones to imprinting to maturing. The sociologically the factor can explain how individuals and groups develop psychologically (28). The third and fourth questions are perceived as “ultimate causes” of biological theories and related to the influence of Darwin (25). Tinbergen asks how adaption impacts behavior and the value of adaption. Bonding within families is nurturing (ecological) and bonding with other humans to grow food can mean food for everyone (intraspecific). Finally, what can an individual’s unique behaviors evolve in terms of “space-time-structure” and on the moral decisions so organization can take place (28).
Biosociology is controversial because humans tend to answer biosocial questions based on religion, fear or lack of understanding about how environment impacts behavior. One example is the controversy over whether homosexuality a choice or genetically predicted; the impact of genes (Beaver, Barnes and Boutwell 2015, 4). Another is the fear of people who are different, but” humans are different” some are mild so . . . why are other people violent and aggressive? Crime and war highly impact social behaviors (4). Finally, much research focuses on the impact of the environment based on the assumption that “our biology and our evolutionary past must matter in terms of our behavioral outcomes” (4).
Geertz states that “human nature is unfinished” because humans are still developing because of the influence of culture (12). In fact human development and moral growth might be entirely impacted by culture (11). The study of man and culture is highly detailed and complex (15). The must be done in sociology and biological evolution and every factor is in play with every other factor (15).
References
Beaver, K.M., Barnes, J.C. and Boutwell, B.B. The Nurture versus Biosocial Debate in Criminology. London: Sage Publications, Inc. Print.
Geertz, Clifford. “The Impact of the Concept of Culture and the Concept of Man.” Chapt. 2. In The Interpretation of Cultures: Selected Essays. NY: Basic Boos, Inc. 1973. pp. 1-15. https://bin.sc/Collection/Net/allanmc/web/geertz.pdf
Medicus, Gerhard. “Mapping Transdisciplinarity in Human Sciences.” Chapt. 5. In Janice W. Lee (ed.), Focus on Gender Identity, 2005. pp. 95-114. http://homepage.uibk.ac.at/~c720126/humanethologie/ws/medicus/block1/MappingISBN1-59454-212-0.pdf
