Parasocial Behavior
- Pronunciation
- /par-a-soh-shal beh-have-yor/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- Parasocial Behavior
- Plural
- Parasocial Behaviors
Definition
A level of social behavior less developed than eusocial behavior. This type of sociality includes cooperative behaviors within the same generation of insects, namely communal, quasisocial, and semisocial behavior.
Etymology
From Greek 'para-', meaning 'beside', and 'social' from Latin 'socius', meaning 'companion'.
Example
Parasocial behavior is exemplified by groups of sisters that nest together, such as in carpenter bees.
Related Terms
- Communal Behavior
- Quasisocial Behavior
- Semisocial Behavior
Usage Notes
Parasocial behavior involves cooperation within a generation but does not involve overlapping generations like in eusocial behavior.