Insight 2013

Question 1

Fixed-action pattern.

Answer 1

A complex set of behaviours that is performed identically by all members of a species.

Question 2

Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA).

Answer 2

Located in the midbrain and has a role in learning through operant conditioning. Part of the reward pathway in the brain.

Question 3

Sensitive periods.

Answer 3

Time in a person’s life earn they are most suited to learn a behaviour (Eg. Learning how to talk in the first year of a person’s life).

• Characteristic of humans

Question 4

Critical periods.

Answer 4

Narrow period of time in an organism’s development where it must learn necessary behaviours, responses etc.
(Eg. Birds form attachments with organism present when they hatch).

• Characteristic of all animals

Question 5

What are the three main ethical concerns of Little Albert experiment?

Answer 5

1. No-harm principle.
2. Debriefing.
3. Informed consent.

Question 6

What’s a similarity between fixed action pattern and reflex response?

Answer 6

They are both adaptive and natural responses for the organism.