INTRO TO BEHAVIOUR Flashcards
What is ethology
The scientific study of animal behaviour
What is anthropomorphism
Imposing our own responses and interpretations onto an animal
What is behaviour
The interaction between an organism and its environment, based on the exchange of information between the two
In what 3 ways can an organism react to a stimulus
- react with their own body (e.g. grooming)
- reacting with non-living and living objects
- react with social responses ( communication within a species )
What are the 3 stages of the 3 vector model
- Input vector
- state vector
- output vector
What is the input vector
-information received from the environment by the animal. The brain tries t make sense of this
What is a sign stimulus
A key feature of a stimulus that evokes a particular response (a type of input vector)
What are the 3 variable aspects of a state vector
- emotion
- motivation
- memory
What does the state vector involve
Processing, storage and modification of information received
What does an output vector involve
The elements of behaviour generated by the animal which are accessible through observation
What are Tinbergen’s 4 levels of behavioural explanation
WHY?
-Function= what is the purpose of the behaviour?
-Evolution = where has the behaviour originated from?
HOW?
-Mechanism= how is the behaviour achieved by he animal?
-Development= Howe does the behaviour develop from birth to maturity
What are the 3 phases of motivation
- Phase 1=Orientation
- Phase 2=Oriented
- Phase 3=Consumption
What is motivation
The internal decision-making process by which an animal chooses to perform a particular behaviour
What ensures the control of motivation
Feedback loops
What can be a sign stimulus?
any trait of an animal, plant or object can be a sign stimulus
