Final answer:
Altruism is understood in sociobiological theory as a behavior influenced by genetic factors, aiming to increase one's genetic fitness through various strategies like the 'selfish gene' concept or reciprocal altruism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relevance of altruism to sociobiological theory is best captured by the assertion that altruism is a result of genetic factors. Sociobiology integrates the understanding of behaviors through the lens of genetics and evolution, proposing that actions which seem altruistic may often be driven by biological imperatives to pass on one's genes. In the realm of sociobiology, the controversial principle of the 'selfish gene', popularized by Richard Dawkins, suggests that behaviors that support the survival and reproduction of genetic relatives can be evolutionarily advantageous, even if they appear self-sacrificial on the surface. Given that such behaviors can enhance the propagation of shared genes in a population, altruism, in this context, is seen as an evolutionary strategy underpinned by genetic factors.Actions such as reciprocal altruism observed in animal species also align with sociobiological explanations. For example, monkeys that groom unrelated individuals in turn for future grooming services demonstrate that even in the absence of immediate direct benefits, such behaviors are maintained because they ultimately support individual survival and potential to pass on genes. These behaviors survive the sieve of natural selection due to their overall benefit to the organism's genetic fitness.