Biosocial Adaptation: A Strategic-Tactical Approach to Individuality

This paper advocates a biosocial conception of personality, emphasizing adaptation as a core concept, and empirical evidence is provided indicating that tactics have a physiological basis whereas strategies are affected by social learning.

Abstract

Biological and social factors are generally assumed to be important determinants of personality. Yet, attempts to integrate both aspects are scarce. This paper advocates a biosocial conception of personality, emphasizing adaptation as a core concept. Human adaptation, it is argued, is multiply determined, including biological as well as social aspects. Although biological and social adaptation differ in several respects, both are involved in regulating individual behavior in daily life situations. The tactics people employ to deal with daily life situations are conceived as the major effects of biological adaptation, whereas the strategies governing behavior are viewed primarily as the results of social learning. Strategies and tactics are conceptualized and connected in a comprehensive system regulating individual behavior. Empirical evidence is provided indicating that tactics have a physiological basis whereas strategies are affected by social learning. Personality is conceived as a strategic-tactical coalition, i.e. the product of biological and social determinants interacting during individual development.