Which concept explains how behaviors that assist genetic relatives enhance evolutionary success?

The concept that explains how behaviors that assist genetic relatives enhance evolutionary success is kin selection. Kin selection is a form of natural selection that favors altruistic behaviors, which are actions that benefit other individuals, particularly those that share a significant amount of genetic material with the individual performing the behavior. This means that when an organism helps its relatives (such as siblings or other close family members), it indirectly promotes the survival and reproductive success of shared genes.

This concept is vital because it illustrates how organisms can increase their own evolutionary fitness by supporting the breeding success of their relatives. For example, a parent might sacrifice its own chance of survival to ensure the protection of its offspring. This behavior is beneficial because even if the parent does not reproduce, the survival of its genetic relatives ensures that the shared genes are passed on to future generations.

While natural selection and group selection are relevant generally, they focus on different aspects of evolutionary theory. Natural selection encompasses the broader mechanisms through which advantageous traits become more common, and group selection pertains to the survival of groups rather than individual genetic relationships. Gene selection is a less commonly used concept that refers primarily to the idea of genes being the units of selection but does not specifically address the altruistic behaviors directed toward relatives that characterize kin selection.