LTC (2022) complete Flashcards
aim of Von Frisch’s bee study
To describe bee dances and explain how they are used
method of Von Frisch’s bee study
Frisch was an ethologist so mainly observed bees but also did some experiments
He put a food source close to the hive (10-20 metres away) as well as one further away (up to 300m)
He made over 6000 observations of honey bees over 20 years
results of Von Frisch’s bee study
Bees did two types of dance: round and waggle
Round dance if food was less than 100m away, returning bee would move around in a circle
Waggle dance - bee would move in a figure of eight and on the straight middle part the bee wags its abdomen
The direction of the straight part tells other bees its direction
The slower the dance the further away the food
conclusion of Von Frisch’s bee study
Bees use a sophisticated form of animal communication and the bee dance has evolutionary value
give 3 evaluation points of Von Frisch’s bee study
STRENGTH - made an important contribution to science
WEAKNESS - importance of sound was overlooked
WEAKNESS - bees don’t always respond to the waggle dance
elaborate strength of Von Frisch’s bee study (made an important contribution to science)
Made an important contribution to science
People knew bees danced but not why
This shows his work was important to ethology and science
elaborate weakness of Von Frisch’s bee study (importance of sound was overlooked)
Importance of sound was overlooked
Esch found that when bees performed the dance in silence other bees would not go to the food
Showing Frisch did not consider all communication signals
elaborate weakness of Von Frisch’s bee study (bees don’t always respond to the waggle dance)
Bees don’t always respond to the waggle dance
Bees don’t respond when nectar is placed in the middle of a lake
This shows that there may be other factors affecting a bee’s response to the waggle dance
what are the 4 functions of animal communication?
Survival
Territory
Reproduction
Food
define communciation
The transfer of information from one or more animals to one or more other animals
explain survival as a function of animal communication
Communication can be used to increase survival of the offspring
Velvet monkeys use alarm calls to warn each other of predators
Rabbits use non vocal displays to communicate, tail high + ears back
explain territory as a function of animal communication
Many animals mark territory by scent marking
spreading urine, faeces or other natural scents to discourage animals from invading territory
White rhinos lay dung in piles to scent mark
explain reproduction as a function of animal communication
Mating displays are used to signal to mates that a animals wants to reproduce, they communicate genetic fitness
Male peacocks stretch out their plumage to show colours to females, brighter = healthier
explain food as a function of animal communication
Animals use signals to communicate food locations
e:g bee dance
Some animals use pheromones
Ants leave pheromone trails from colony to food source
define displacement
The idea that human language enables the discussion of things that aren’t present or exist
give 3 properties of human communication not present in animal communication
Planning ahead and discussing future events
Creativity in terms of open and closed systems
Single versus multiple channels
explain planning ahead and discussing future events as a property of human communication and not animal communication
Humans can use language to discuss future events and plan ahead
Animals tend to focus on things in the present, they have no displacement
explain creativity as a property of human communication and not animal communication
Human language is an open system
Words can be combined in completely new ways
This means humans can create an infinite number of sentences
Animal communication is a closed system as gestures, sounds and movements only refer to specific events
explain single vs multiple channels as a property of human communication and not animal communication
Human language is multiple channels as it can be expressed in many different ways
Animal language can only be expressed in one way so single channel
define verbal communication
The passing of information to another person using verbal or written words
define non verbal communication
All communication not involving spoken or written words such as body language, facial expressions or eye contact
define eye contact
When two people look at eachothers eyes at the same time
what are the 3 roles of eye contact in non verbal communication?
Regulating flow of conversation
Signalling attraction
Expressing emotion
explain the role of eye contact in regulating flow of conversation
Kendon found that speakers looked away when about to talk and gave prolonged eye contact when about to finish
Eye contact encourages turn taking in conversation
explain the role of eye contact in signalling attraction
Conway found that people who use eye contact are judged as more attractive even with a negative facial expression
explain the role of eye contact in expressing emotion
Adams and Kleck found that emotions of joy and anger were more intensely perceived when someone was gazing directly at them
Fear and sadness more intense when gaze was averted
give 3 evaluation points of eye contact studies
STRENGTH - studies can explain autism
WEAKNESS - use of liker scales
WEAKNESS - artificial tasks were used