Final answer:
Altruistic behaviors in animals often result in increased fitness for the individual or their genetic relatives, explained by genes sharing and kin selection. Reciprocal altruism describes beneficial exchanges between unrelated individuals with the expectation of future reciprocity. These concepts challenge the notion of 'pure' altruism by revealing underlying evolutionary advantages.
This correct answer is 1)
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the keys to understanding altruistic behavior is that the end result of what appears to be altruism on face value is actually an increase in the fitness of the "actor".
Altruistic behaviors, such as those seen in animal species, often lead to an evolutionary advantage for the individual or their genetic relatives.
Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene posits that these behaviors can be explained from the viewpoint of the gene itself, where the sacrifice of an individual benefits related individuals that share genes that are identical by descent.
This is observed in the animal kingdom through behaviors that increase the reproductive success of relatives, thus enhancing one's inclusive fitness through a process known as kin selection.
Furthermore, reciprocal altruism occurs amongst unrelated individuals, where there is a trade-off of beneficial behaviors with the expectation of future returns. For instance, monkeys groom each other with the understanding that the favor will be returned.
These interactions must occur within a framework where individuals encounter each other repeatedly and cheaters are punished, ultimately supporting cooperation over time.