1 Flashcards
what are the 6 different sub-divisions of bio-psychology?
physiological psychology psychopharmacology neuropsychology psychophysiology cognitive neuroscience comparative psychology
define ethology
study of animal behaviour
define inherited behavioural tendencies
the idea that behaviour is inherited and present at birth rather than learned (innate)
give a study in which supports inherited behavioural tendencies
give a study in which builds upon inherited behavioural tendencies
TINBERGEN argued that animals come into the world with instincts already adapted to their environments, he experimented on herring gull chicks who peck at a red spot on their parents beak in order be feed. He thought that this was a fixed action pattern, therefore he took new born chicks who had never learned to peck at their parents beaks. he found that they would peck at moving stimuli/pointed stimuli/stimuli with contrasting foreground and background shade. they pecked the most at black and red pointed beaks positioned at the end of the bill. therefore behaviour is innate.
HAILMAN argued that all behaviour is an interaction between inherited tendencies and learning. he studied laughing gull chick pecking accuracy. he found that new born chicks were relatively accurate at pecking but 2-day-old chicks were even more accurate.
define fixed action pattern
is a series or sequence of acts that occur behaviourally in animals. This sequence is unchangeable and will be carried out to completion once started, regardless of changes in the original stimulus.
how does GLEITMANS study support pre-programmed human behaviours?
deaf and blind children smile and laugh even though they have never seen or heard others perform this behaviour, therefore this behaviour is innate
how does the moro-reflex support that behaviour is innate?
if you briefly remove the support behind a babies head it’ll jerk its limbs towards the mid-line of its body making a grasping action with its hands.
this is further supported to be an innate behaviour- it is a primate adaption because in apes when the mother moves the baby must hold on, if not they will plunge to their deaths.
define natural selection
charles darwins theory that species with adaptive advantages will survive.
survival of the fittest
what is needed in order for natural selection to occur
competition over limited resources. biological variation
how is evolutionary success measured?
in terms of long-term biological survival e.g. passing on genetics
define altruism
give the biological definition
selfless concern for others
donor incurs a reproductive loss while the recipient incurs a reproductive benefit
give some evidence of altruism among humans
Gallup (2016) 145,000 people, 18% gave money to a homeless person and 30% helped strangers
Warneken and tomasello (2007) humans show a tendency to help others from an early age. gives evidence that it is an innate tendency
give evidence of altruism among animals chimpanzees lions prairie dogs honeybees
warneken et al (2007) found helping behaviour in wild-raised chimpanzees (passed humans an object when they were struggling to reach it)
lions cooperatively hunt and share the kill, lionesses will suckle the young of other females
prairie dogs give an alarm call on spotting a predator. by calling the individual increases the risk that the individual will be detected, however they selflessly ca;; anyway
honeybees will fight to the death to protect their queen
why does altruism contradict natural selection?
because altruism reduces individual reproductive success, instead it increases the long-term survival of the individuals genetics
give an example of reproductive altruism
many social insects contain sterile workers who dedicate their lives to raising and protecting offspring of their ‘queen’
in what instances doesnt altruism contradict natural selection?
darwin didnt have knowledge of genes.
relatives have a higher proportion of their genes than non-relatives therefore if you view reproductive success in terms of saving ones genes than altruism doesn’t contradict survival of the fittest. because by protecting your relatives you are continuing the survival of your genes
what is hamiltons inclusive fitness theory and what is it also known as
hamilton (1963) argued that fittness (reproductive success) should be measured in terms of promoting one genes, including those copes we share with relatives
i.e. by promoting the survival of our kin were also promoting our own long-term genetic survival
KIN SELECTION
what is the difference between direct reproductive success and indirect reproductive success
-the actual young that the individual produces
(basically darwins theory)
-contribution to the survival and reproduction of the copies of ones genes contained in ones relatives (Hamiltons extension)
what is hamiltons rule
rB>C
r=relatedness (proportion of shared genes)
B=benefit to the recipient (how many more offspring are produced)
C= lost to the altruist
give evidence of hamiltons inclusive fitness theory
Hoogland (1963) found that prairie dogs were more likely to alarm call at the sight of a predator when close relatives were present
Madsen et al (2007) Ps endured the skiing position longer in order to win money for themselves and relatives than distant relatives and charity
define reciprocal altruism
trivers (1972) “ill scratch your back now, if you scratch mine later”
both individuals incur a lost and a benefit
what are the conditions needed for reciprocal altruism
Trivers stated that reciprocal altruism would be rare in nature because certain conditions are needed
- species need to be long-lived and in stable social groups
- must be able to keep track of past exchange
give evidence of reciprocal altruism
bats
monkeys
wilkinson found blood sharing in vampire bats. he formed 2 mixed groups from 2 natural clusters. he starved a bat, on return the bats were fed by their own original group. reciprocal partnership was observed
vervet monkeys who had been groomed by a non-relative was more likely to help them if they got involed in a fight
what is game theory?
what is the most famous example
a mathematical modelling study, it uses rational decision making in conflict and cooperation
THE PRISON DILEMMA
define sexual selection
(its a complementary process to natural selection) “traits that promote mating and reproductive success”
what are traits that compromise personal survival and therefore bypass natural selection?
e.g. peacocks
traits that reduce survival but increase sexual selection,
peacocks have a huge tail that makes being caught much easier, but theyve evolved this way because peahens like them. peahens reject males with reduced numbers of eyespots and often mate with those with iridescent eyespots
define sexual dimorphism
“the difference between male and female physical and behavioural traits”
darwin though sexual selection could explain these differences
what are the four different basis’s for sexual dimorphism
male to male competition- males need to fight for females, they posses physical features for this.
female choice- males posses certain features because females prefer them
females are choosey- females make a greater overall investment and therefore they have more to loose if they mate with a poor quality mate
males woo, females choose- females can only become pregnant once, but males can implement mulitple pregancies, hence males benefit from every extra chance of mating they get
descibe paternity uncertainty
males cant be certain that the babies are theres. explains why males favour chastity
how do you work out potential reproduction rate (PR). what does it mean for sexual selection?
it is the max number of mating required for max potential offspring produced
whichevers sex’s PR is in short supply it becomes valuable and worth competing for
why do men prefer younger women and women prefer older men
females period of fertility is 13-45, mens period is 13-65
females prefer men 2.99 years older, and males prefer 2.66 years younger
women prefer older because it indicates fittness and health and status to have reached that age. men prefer younger because it indicates fertility
how does physical attrativeness vary acroess cultures
all cultures are attracted to indicators of fitness and health
Body shape is studied in waist:hip or WHR.- there is a difference in WHR depending on cultures, western cultures prefer 0.7 WHR whereas other cultures prefer 0.9 WHR
describe theories relating to facial attrativeness
attrative=average=fit
Thornhill and gangestad found that the proteins which indicate genetic adaptibility is highest in individuals with average traits. Women with average faces had fewer past health problems. were more attracted to average faces
attractive=symmetrical=fit
symmetry is associated
with parasite resistance
feminised faces are more attractive- women find feminised faces more attractive because it indicates long-term potential partner and a willingness to invest. masculine faces indicate short-term
describe dimorphism in human mate choice
women evolved to seek men with good genes, ability to supply resources and help with childcare, men seek fertile mates, good genes and faithful.
in a recent questionnaire by Buss, of cultures earning potential and ambition are valued by women, phyical attributes and chastisy are valued by men
what is Hoffman’s developmentt on Lorenz’s theory
imprinting theory
Hoffmen exposed 3 days old chicks (after critical period) to a moving triangle, at first they were avoident. however their fear subsided and they imprinted on the triangle.
therefore imprinting is flexible suggesting there is a sensitive period rather than critical period
what is Hailmans development on Tinbergens theory
Hailman found that after 2 days gull chicks will only peck at naturalstic looking peaks. thus flexability in the system allows chicks to learn and refine behaviour based on experience
what did the minnesota twin study find
twins raised apart or together are of interest because genetic components remain constant but the environment differs. they found inheritable traits
how do genes affect behaviour?
polygenic
intelligence
behaviour is the result of interactions of several genes
intelligence is a mixture of genes and enviromental factors
tyron- maze-dull and male-bright rats he found that there was a inherited component in learning
describe the subdivisions of the nervous system
PNS CNS
ANS SNS brain spinal
(involuntary) (voluntary)
PNS SNS
