In biosocial theory, how should behavior be studied?

• A. As an outcome of social learning only.
• B. As a product of genetic determinism only.
• C. As the result of interactions between biology and environment.
• D. As unrelated to biology.

Answer: (C)

Biosocial theory treats behavior as the product of ongoing interactions between biology and environment. Biological factors like genetics, brain chemistry, and hormonal states shape how people respond to their surroundings, while environmental influences such as parenting, culture, stress, and social experiences shape biological processes and the expression of those factors. The key idea is that these influences influence each other bidirectionally across development, not in isolation.

So, studying behavior under this view means looking at how biology and environment work together to produce actions, thoughts, and feelings. Researchers might examine how a person’s temperament interacts with parenting styles, or how stress-related biology and supportive contexts together shape coping or aggression. The approach uses integrated methods—genetics, neurobiology, physiology, and contextual data—because focusing on biology alone or environment alone would miss important dynamics.

Other views that emphasize only social learning or only genetic determinism miss this reciprocal, integrated perspective, and saying biology is unrelated contradicts the whole premise of biosocial theory.