Final answer:
Herbert Spencer applied Charles Darwin's theory of evolution to societies in what became known as social Darwinism, which Charles Darwin would have rejected as a misapplication of his work.
Step-by-step explanation:
Drawing on Charles Darwin's study On the Origin of Species, Herbert Spencer applied the concept of evolution of the species to societies to explain how they change, or evolve, over time. This sociopolitical concept, known as social Darwinism, was further developed by figures such as William Graham Sumner. Social Darwinism utilized the idea of "survival of the fittest" to suggest that societal success and status could be understood in terms of natural selection, where certain individuals or groups succeed due to supposedly inherent traits and their ability to adapt. However, Charles Darwin himself would have rejected this interpretation as a misapplication of his scientific research.