Behaviour - L1 Flashcards
What is Behaviour? What is it determined by?
Behaviour is an action, or pattern of actions which results from interactions between genes, the environment and experience (knowledge).
What are some of the approaches to studying behaviour?
Psychology and Ethology.
What is the difference between psychology and ethology?
Psychology is the study of the mind - focusing on how it works
Ethology is the biological study of behaviour - focusing on what the behaviour is for, its evolutionary history
What are Tinbergen’s 4 questions?
- Causative WHAT - mechanisms that cause behaviour
- Oncogenic HOW - development of behaviour
- Functional WHY - adaptation/purpose
- Phytogenic WHEN - evolution
Each behaviour can be studied in each section.
What is cognitive ethology?
The animal’s experience/perception. Influence of conscious awareness and intention of behaviour.
What are the motivation and drivers of behaviour?
Rewards, pleasure seeking, pain, anxiety, fear
There are positive and negative drivers that influence behaviour.
What is innate behaviour?
A behaviour that you’re born with
What is Learning?
Learning is a form of cognition (action or process acquiring and understanding through thought, experience and senses). This is involved/motivated by emotion.
Why is learning important?
It enables animals to adapt to their behaviour to changing environments.
Complex behaviours that cannot be genetically encoded can be learned.
Learning is a continuous process in the wild, in captivity, and during training.
What are the different types of learning?
What types of stimuli should be most important for animals?
Hunger and thirst
What are some examples of innate responses that are NOT useful at times?
Fight or flight. This response can be irrational, and often no longer useful. This is seen in domestic species, as we now ask them to not pay attention to them.
What is non-associative learning?
It involves changes in behaviour towards a stimulus without external events (such as rewards or punishment). This occurs during the early development period.
What is imprinting?
Rapid learning during a sensitive period. Very important for birds, as they imprint on their mother.
What is habituation?
It is a decrease or cessation in response following repeated exposure to the stimulus. This means that the stimulus is no longer biologically relevant - no threat or pleasure from it.
To be effective, it must be gradual and not forceful, and below the fear threshold.
