-
Animal Behavior and Ethology
- - the area of biology that studies animal behavior
- -ethologists focus upon evolutionary processes (i.e. natural selection), and behavior in a naturalistic environment
- -behavior is viewed as important factor contributing to survival, and to natural selection
-
Fixed Action Patterns (FAPs)
- a sequence of behaviors elicited in the same way each time the organism is exposed to the releasing stimulus
- - term FAP meant to replace "instinct"
- - FAPs are species typical
- - related species can have similar FAPs
- - FAPs are stereotyped
- - FAPs are ritualized; through evolution, behavior patterns can take on symbolic content
- Examples of FAPs:
- -Imprinting
- -Retrieval
- -Attack
- -Courtship
- -Threat
- -Communication
-
Human FAPs
- According to ethologists, many forms of human social behavior reflect the influence of FAPs on our behavior
- Emotional facial expressions-smile
- Threat-clenched teeth, closed fists
- Friendly greeting-raised eyebrows
- Aspects of Courtship:
- - flirting
- - you look at someone and you look away
- ... are some aspects of courtship a ritualized form of food sharing?
- -demonstrating some type of bond, sign of lack of aggression
- -bond establishing in courtships (sharing a cookie with the mouth)
- -French kissing
- -tongue play
- -ads associated with their products give a positive attitude (wine bar ad)
- Although traditional ethologists maintained that FAPs are completely innate, scientific evidence indicates that...
- Early experience is of critical importance for development of FAPs
- FAPs are strongly influenced by genetic factors (result in species specific behavior), yet there is some learning component
-
Biological Constraints on Learning
- - 'preparedness' certain species are prepared to learn some things easily
- - e.g. conditioned taste aversion - animals learn how to avoid tastes associated with later sickness; a powerful form of conditioning and doesn't require multiple training; birds also avoid food based on color that is associated with being sick; the conditioning isn't necessarily directly related to the negative experience (the injected substance makes the mouse sick)
- - e.g. young rats and mice can easily learn to avoid averse stimuli by going into a dark area
- - young children are capable of learning any language
-
Modern-Day Variants of the Ethological Perspective
- Sociobiology
- Evolutionary Psychology
- - these fields attempt to explain social behavior of animals, including humans, in terms of survival and reproductive value (e.g. aspects of physical attractiveness)
- -face morphing example
- -chimpanzees engage in tribal warfare
- -bonobos are less aggressive and engage in more equality
|
|