A revolutionary scientific perspective bridging biology and social science to understand human nature
What makes us moral? For centuries, we've treated this as either a biological question—are we hardwired for goodness?—or a social one—do we learn ethics from our community? But what if this very division is the problem? A revolutionary scientific perspective is emerging that bridges these ancient divides, and it's transforming our understanding of human nature itself.
This isn't about reducing complex human behavior to simple biology, nor about ignoring our biological nature in social theories. It's about understanding how evolutionary processes and social structures intertwine to shape who we are—including our deepest moral commitments 4 .
Examines how evolutionary processes shape human behavior and social structures.
Studies how cultural norms, institutions, and relationships influence human development.
By studying everything from ancient bones to modern moral dilemmas, biosocial researchers are revealing surprising connections between our biological heritage and social worlds. Their findings don't just satisfy scientific curiosity—they offer powerful insights for addressing pressing societal issues, from designing better social policies to understanding the roots of cooperation and conflict in an increasingly interconnected world.
At the heart of biosocial science lies evolutionary demography, which examines how environmental, ecological, and evolutionary forces shape fertility, mortality, and migration patterns across species, including humans 2 .
This field brings together demographers, biologists, epidemiologists, and sociologists to understand population processes through an evolutionary lens.
Evolutionary demography helps explain why humans experience menopause while most other species reproduce until death, and why we live so long after our reproductive years.
Evolutionary demography provides mathematical tools to explore these questions by analyzing how survival and reproduction trade-offs have shaped human life courses 4 .
On the social side, research on moral identity explores how moral values become central to a person's self-concept. Psychologists have found that when moral values become integrated into our identity, we're more consistently motivated to act according to those values .
This process of "moral integration" connects our biological predispositions with social learning through the stories we tell about ourselves.
Moral identity theorists argue that autobiographical narratives—the stories we construct about our lives—play a crucial role in weaving moral values into our sense of self .
How can we study the interplay of biology and society in ancient populations? A groundbreaking bioarchaeological study of an Early Mycenaean cemetery in Ayios Vasileios, Greece (ca. 1700–1500 BCE) provides a fascinating case study 9 .
During this period, Southern Greece underwent radical social transformations. The archaeological record shows traditional burial practices alongside new methods that emphasized group identity.
Early Mycenaean period begins with traditional burial practices
Emergence of new burial methods emphasizing group identity
Peak period of social transformation and kin-making strategies
Study period ends with established social kinship patterns
To answer the question of whether burial groupings were based on biological kinship or socially constructed kinship, scientists employed a sophisticated research approach:
The findings revealed a surprising picture of Early Mycenaean society:
| Research Question | Finding | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Were burial groupings biologically related? | A biologically related burial group shared relatively homogeneous practices | Biological kinship existed but didn't determine burial practices |
| How were social kin ties constructed? | Through shared burial location and practices | Being buried together created social kinship regardless of biological ties |
| What was the long-term pattern? | The same burial ground was used over centuries | Social strategies of exclusion/inclusion based on age and kinship divisions |
This finding challenges simple biological determinism while acknowledging the biological reality of relatedness. The Early Mycenaeans were using mortuary practices as what the researchers call a "kin-making strategy"—a way to anchor social innovation in shared biological heritage while actively constructing new social relationships beyond immediate genetic ties 9 .
Biosocial science relies on diverse methodological approaches that bridge traditional disciplinary boundaries. Here are key tools and methods that enable researchers to investigate the complex interplay between biology and society:
| Method/Tool | Primary Application | Role in Biosocial Research |
|---|---|---|
| Phenotypic Analysis | Measuring physical traits in skeletal remains | Estimates biological relationships and population structures 9 |
| Biodistance Statistics | Analyzing biological relatedness using methods like Gower coefficients | Quantifies biological relationships while combining different data types 9 |
| Demographic Modeling | Analyzing fertility, mortality, and migration patterns | Reveals how evolutionary forces shape life history traits 4 |
| Autobiographical Narrative Analysis | Studying personal life stories and their structure | Examines how moral values become integrated into personal identity |
| Taphonomic Analysis | Studying processes affecting remains after death | Reconstructs environmental and cultural formation processes 5 |
Beyond specific techniques, biosocial scientists have developed sophisticated analytical frameworks:
This approach moves beyond seeing preservation as merely "natural" versus "cultural." Instead, it recognizes that preservation processes often involve both environmental conditions and culturally informed practices acting synergistically.
For example, the preservation of human remains depends on both soil chemistry and culturally specific burial practices 5 .
Modern biosocial research often involves creating datasets that combine biological, archaeological, and historical information.
For instance, researchers might combine skeletal measurements with historical records about family structures, migration patterns, and social organizations 4 .
The quest for a biosocial science represents a fundamental shift in how we study humanity. By bridging the artificial divide between natural and social sciences, this emerging field offers more nuanced and complete explanations for human behavior, social structures, and even our moral commitments.
This integrated perspective matters far beyond academic debates. Understanding the biosocial foundations of human behavior can help design better public health initiatives, more effective social policies, and more compassionate communities.
It reveals that our moral systems, while culturally variable, emerge from the interaction of our evolutionary heritage and social experiences.
As research in this field continues to grow—fueled by organizations like the Evolutionary Demography Society 2 and publications like the Journal of Biosocial Science 1 —we can expect even deeper insights into one of humanity's most enduring questions: What makes us who we are? The answer, it seems, lies not in our biology or our society alone, but in their inseparable connection.