A claim that biology solely determines behavior is most consistent with.

• A. Biosocial theory.
• B. Genetic determinism or biological essentialism.
• C. Sociocultural theory.
• D. Behaviorism.

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is whether behavior is determined solely by biology. When someone says biology alone determines behavior, that aligns with genetic determinism or biological essentialism—the view that genes largely fix how we act, think, and feel, with little or no influence from environment or culture. This perspective emphasizes the power of biology to set behavioral outcomes as if nature completely dictates nurture.

However, the other theories describe how biology interacts with or is shaped by surroundings. Biosocial theory, for example, holds that biology and social factors work together to influence behavior, so environment matters alongside biology. Sociocultural theory focuses on how social contexts, cultural norms, and shared meanings mold behavior. Behaviorism centers on how behavior is learned through experience, conditioning, and reinforcement, stressing environmental input over innate biological dictates. Because they all account for environmental, social, or learning influences, they do not claim biology alone determines behavior, making genetic determinism the best match for the statement.