ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Human behavioural ecology

Human behavioural ecology is like when you study how people act and why they act that way. You know how sometimes you do things because your friends do it too, or because your parents say you should? Well, human behavioural ecology is about trying to figure out why people do things in groups or because of different reasons, like to be safe or to get food.

Scientists who study human behavioural ecology look at how people act in different situations, like when they're at school, at home, or even when they're playing with friends. They try to understand why people make certain choices and decisions, and what those choices and decisions mean for the people and the world around them.

For example, someone who studies human behavioural ecology might try to figure out why some people choose to share their toys with others, while others choose to keep all their toys to themselves. They might look at how sharing toys helps people make friends and feel happy, while keeping all the toys to yourself might make some people feel lonely or unhappy.

Overall, human behavioural ecology is about trying to understand the choices and decisions that people make, and why they make them, so that we can understand ourselves and the world better.