Introductory Sociology CLEP Prep Practice Exam

What is the study of the social behaviors of individual organisms?

1. Microsociology

2. Macroeconomics

3. Social Psychology

4. Ethology

The correct answer is: Ethology

There are a few factors that can help us identify the correct answer. Firstly, we can look at the keywords in the question itself "individual organisms." This suggests that the study should focus on the behaviors of specific organisms, rather than groups or larger systems. Secondly, we can eliminate options based on their subject matter. Macroeconomics deals with broader economic systems, while social psychology focuses on human interactions and relationships. Therefore, the best option left is ethology, which specifically studies the behavior of individual animals in their natural environments. This field of study is often used in the context of animal behavior, but it can also be applied to human behavior. So, while options A and C may seem similar, they do not encompass the breadth of individual behavior as ethology does.