Final answer:
The statement is true: primate behaviors are believed to have evolved through natural selection, according to scientists who adopt the behavioral ecology approach, which is supported by principles of evolutionary psychology.
Step-by-step explanation:
Scientists who use the behavioral ecology approach indeed believe that primate behaviors have evolved through the operation of natural selection. This is a true statement based on the fact that these behaviors, to the extent they are influenced by genetics, can affect an organism's fitness within its environment. Evolutionary psychology, a field within behavioral ecology, specifically examines these behaviors in relation to evolution. Charles Darwin himself suggested that behaviors are subject to adaptive changes, just like physical characteristics.
Evolutionary processes such as mutation, speciation, gene flow, and genetic drift all contribute to how behaviors might evolve. Moreover, behaviors that contribute positively to an organism's survival and reproduction – in essence, increasing their fitness – are likely to become more prevalent over time due to natural selection. This core principle is not only applicable to primates but extends to all organisms exhibiting behaviors that can have genetic determinants.