Unit 1 (Ch. 1 & 2) Flashcards
Fixed Action Pattern (FAP)
Fixed pattern actions differ from reflexes in that FAPs involve the entire organism and are more complex and more variable. They appear to be thoughtful acts as they are an interrelated series of actions, but they are largely inherited / have a strong genetic basis.
Whole body, complex, variable
Mutation
An abrupt change to a gene is called a mutation. Those that occur in reproductive cells may be transmitted to offspring.
Sensitization
Sensitization involves an increase in the intensity or probability of a reflex response.
Habituation
Habituation involves a reduction in the probability or intensity of a reflex response.
Releaser
A releaser is an event that elicits a specific kind of event. The colour red is a releaser for aggression in the male stickleback. (Releasing stimuli).
The sight of a chick with an open mouth reliably results in an adult bird providing food. The chick’s open mouth is an example of a releaser.
Aversive
An aversive is an event an organism tends to avoid.
Chief problem with natural selection
The chief problem with natural selection is that it is slow. It also helps the species to adapt to change, not the living individual.
Stimulus
A stimulus is an environmental event that is capable of affecting behaviour.
What does the slope of a record tell you?
If the rate of a behaviour is increasing, the slope of the cumulative record rises/goes up. A flat record indicates that the behaviour is not occurring.
What is the difference between anecdotal and case study evidence?
The chief difference between anecdotal and case study evidence is that anecdotal evidence is based on casual observation whereas case studies examine an individual in detail.
Between-subjects design
The essential element of a between-subjects design is that the independent variable varies across participants.
Within-subjects design
The essential element of a within-subjects design is that the independent variable varies within participants.
How are reflexes, fixed action patterns, and general behaviour traits alike? How do they differ?
Reflex: relationship between specific event and a simple, involuntary response to that event (unconditional reflex).
Fixed Action Pattern: FAP is a reflex that involves the whole body, is complex and variable.
General behaviour trait: any general behavioural tendency that is strongly influenced by genes (introversion, general anxiety).
Behaviour
Behavior is anything an organism does that can be measured.
Fluency is also known as
automaticity
Circular argument
A circular explanation is one in which the evidence for the explanation of an event is the event itself.
Latency
Latency refers to the time that passes before a response occurs.
Identify and explain the three major reasons for using animals in research on learning.
Genetic history, learning history, considering it acceptable to do to animals what we would never do to humans (abuse, torture, inducing violent behaviour or depression).
Identify and explain the three major arguments against using animals in research on learning.
People and other animals are different (need to bolster with corroborating evidence to show connection).
No practical value to animal research on behaviour (except psychological disorders, child rearing, education, business yes).
Unethical (but okay if it’s to benefit us and no more harm is done than necessary to benefit us?)
ABA reversal design
A type of within-subject experiment in which behaviour is observed before (A) and after B. The original condition A is then restored, sometimes forllowed by B again.
Independent variable
Independent variable is any variable an experimenter manipulates (free to fuck with).
Evolved behaviour can be non-adaptive when
the environment changes.
Operational definition
When a behaviour is defined by the procedure used to measure it, the definition is said to be operational.
