Behavioral patterns can be explained by evolutionary principles from "summary" of The Greatest Show on Earth by Richard Dawkins
One of the most fascinating aspects of evolutionary biology is the way in which behavioral patterns in animals can be explained by principles of natural selection. The concept that animals exhibit certain behaviors because those behaviors have been favored by natural selection over time is a powerful one, shedding light on everything from mating rituals to social structures. Take, for example, the behavior of the male peacock. The elaborate and colorful display put on by male peacocks during mating season may seem extravagant and unnecessary to us, but from an evolutionary standpoint, it makes perfect sense. Female peahens are more likely to choose a mate with the most impressive display of feathers because those displays are a sign of genetic fitness. The more colorful and elaborate the feathers, the healthier and more genetically robust the male is likely to be. Similarly, the behavior of honeybees in form...
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