Lecture 1: introduction and history Flashcards
Original definition of Ethology
The study of animal behavior in it’s natural environment
Current definition of Ethology
The study of the mechanism and evolution of animal behavior.
Behaviorism
- developed by J.B. Watson
- American discipline
- Lab environment/ studied with Norway rats
What behavior studies were emphasized?
LEARNING and theories of behavior
What were 3 major assumption of behaviorism?
- simple reflexes linked by “conditioning” (learning)
- Learning is the most important factor of behavior, not instinct.
- What goes inside an animal is irrelevant, untestable concepts like feelings, expectations, etc.
Ethology
- developed by Konrad Lorenz
- European discipline
- natural environment/ variety of wild animals
What studies of ethology was emphasized?
evolution of behavior, INSTINCT.
Science fields that studies animal behavior
psychology, zoology, ecology, genetics, sociology, evolution, physiology, neurology.
Why is animal behavior a “soft” science?
complex subject, hard to simplify due to complex interactions b/w heredity environment + free will.
Charles Darwin
- British biologist
- developed “Theory of natural selection”, “survival of the fittest”
- realized through adaptation, instinctive behavior would eliminate the process of trial-and-error.
Ivan Pavlor
- Russian physiologist
- Nobel prize –> research pf physiologu of digestion
- Classical conditioning
Ivan
Classical conditioning = associative learning
- uncondition stimulus: sight of food
- uncondition response: salvation to sight of food
- conditioned stimulus: bell or light
- conditioned response: salvation to bell/light
John Watson
- American psychologist, “founder” of behaviorism
- studied with lab animals
Ivan Pavlor
- Russian physiologist
- Nobel prize –> research pf physiology of digestion
- Classical conditioning
John Watson
- American psychologist, “founder” of behaviorism
- studied with lab animals
Karl von Fricsh
- German entomologist
- Nobel Prize winner
- studied honey bees–> can see UV light, commute locality of food.
- bees land on bright petals and go to dark nectar.
Konrad Lorenz
- Austrian naturalist
- founder and namer of Ethology
- studies were observational
- Releaser
- imprinting of parents by young
Konrad
Releaser
features that trigger innate behavior
Konrad
Imprinting of the young
Recognition of parents by infant or foster parents, innately occur during development, irreversible.
Niko Timbergen
- Dutch zoologist
- herring gull
- studied stickleback fish, wasp
- special approach: observe, experiment based on observations.
Vero Wyne-Edwards
- British zoologist
- developed theory of GROUP SELECTION
Theory of group selection
animals are genetically programmed to behave for the good of their group.
George Williams
American biologist
developed theory of individual selection, and the evolution of sex.
Theory of individual selection
natural selection was stronger for individuals than for groups
William Hamilton
British biologist
Theory of kin selection and sex ratios
individuals may benefit by sacrificing their reproduction
Edward Wilson
American zoologist
studied ants
interpreted Human behavior from animal behavior
