Transcript How are Instinct and Learning Involved in Animal Behavior?

How are Instinct and Learning Involved in
Animal Behavior?
• Ethology: the study of animal behavior
– Evolutionary based theories of behavior developed 1950s (1973 Nobel Prize
for Science): Karl von Frisch: mainly studied waggle dance of bees;
Konrad Lorenz: mainly studied geese (modal action patterns, imprinting);
Niko Tinbergen: mainly studied threat display of sticklebacks (fish)
• Innate behavior (instinct): genetically determined behaviors
• Modal Action Patterns: genetically influenced behaviors
– Characterized by stereotypical pattern, central nervous system integration,
independence from feedback once initiated, and heritability (ex. angel
sharks will strike at a fingertip just after birth)
– Displacement and Ritualization: conflicting stimuli lead to “out of context”
behaviors; patterns become exaggerated, repetitive, and stereotyped
• Ex., courtship displays of ducks (head under wing) evolved from ritualization of outof-context preening behavior
• Learned Behaviors: behavior modified via experience
–
–
–
–
Habituation: response to an un-rewarded stimulus ceases
Imprinting: social bonding to parent; occurs in specific (early) period
Conditioning: learning by association (ex. Pavlov with dogs and bells)
Trial and Error and Insight: regarding responses to new situations
Figures 36.1 - 36.3
Figures 36.7 and 36.8
Fig. 36.10
Fig. 36.13
Pavlov’s Dogs
Figures 36.14 and 36.16