Behaviour Flashcards
Behaviour
An action made in response to a stimulus, which modifies the relationship between the organism and the environment.
Innate behaviour
Found in all members of a species. It is not learned by the animal. It is the result of specific nerve pathways laid down as the embryo develops. (E.g. building a nest, migration)
Habituation
Happens when a stimulus is repeated time after time and nothing happens, good or bad. Eventually, the animal stops responding to that stimulus.
Importance of habituation
Young animals learn not to react to the natural features of the natural world. For example, ignore the movement and noise of the wind, or their nervous system would constantly firing off false alarms.
Imprinting
A specialised form of learning behaviour that is seen only in very young animals. At a receptive stage of its early life, the young animal identifies and attaches emotionally to another large organism.
Importance of imprinting
- enables the animal to recognise other animals of the same species
- follow the parent while it is young and relate to other animals
Classic conditioning
When animals learn to associate an existing unconditioned reflex with a new stimulus. For example, some cats learned to settle down next to a computer since they found it is a warm place.
Operant conditioning
Known as trial-and-error learning. This takes place when a piece of trial behaviour by an animal is either rewarded or punished. An animal will repeat the same behaviour several times and it will stop trying it if it results in punishment.
Importance of operating conditioning
- an important part in the way animals learn in everyday life
- widely used by people who want to train animals to carry out a particular behaviour
A lot of animal behaviour is based…
on communication between both members of the same species and members of different species.
Sound signals humans
Humans shape sounds into speech to communicate everything from simple needs to sophisticated ideas. It can also be used to communicate with other species of animals such as dog or cat, even if they do not understand us.
Sound signals chimpanzees
Use a wide range of sounds to communicate complex emotions, from friendship to rage.
Sound signals wolf
Howling maintains contact between the pack members and defends their territory.
Sound signals birds
Sing to mark their territories, find mates and warn off rivals.
Sound signal uses
- for communication between same species and other species
- to mark territories
- find possible mates
- warn off rivals
