Final answer:
The correct answer is A) mutual benefit,
where both the actor and the recipient gain from the interaction. This is different from altruism, where an individual may incur a cost to benefit another with the expectation of future reciprocity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social interaction between animals that benefits both the actor and the recipient is known as mutualism. This type of interaction is a form of symbiosis where both species involved gain a fitness advantage from the relationship.
In a mutualistic relationship, each party provides a benefit to the other, which may include access to resources, protection, or other services. An example of mutualism can be observed in the relationship between certain species of ants and aphids. The ants protect the aphids from predators and in return, they feed on the honeydew produced by the aphids.
It is important to distinguish mutualism from altruism, which refers to a behavior that benefits another individual at a cost to oneself. Altruism often occurs within the same species, and the concept of 'reciprocal altruism' arises when individuals expect this behavior to be reciprocated in the future.