W2 - Animal Behaviour (Learning) [Dr. Madikiza] Flashcards
Learned behaviour attributes? (5)
- What is learned is highly dependent on the environment.
- All organisms have the ability to learn & acquire new skills.
- Brain size of an organism determines how & what they are able to learn.
- Different learning processes can overlap each other & occur simultaneously.
- How we learn is under genetic influence (bigger brain = complex learning & smaller brain = simple/limited learning).
Pro of learned behaviour?
Individual is able to modify the behaviour to suit the current environment.
Con of gene based behaviour?
Individual might not be able to modify the behaviour to suit the environment.
Learning processes attribute?
Differences between the learning processes are linked to stimuli.
Types of learning processes? (2)
- Non-associative.
- Associative.
Non-associative learning process?
= learning process that is linked to a single stimulus.
Associative learning process?
= learning process where there is a relationship between 2 stimuli.
Kinds of non-associative learning process? (2)
- Habituation.
- Sensitization.
Kinds of associative learning process? (2)
- Classical conditioning.
- Operant conditioning.
Sensitization?
=
Things to note about habituation & sensitization?
- It’s important to first sensitize to habituate well.
Ways that learning can occur/How can learning occur? (7)
- Habituation.
- Classical conditioning.
- Operant conditioning.
- Spatial learning.
- Insight learning.
- Social learning.
- Play.
Habituation?
= simple form of learning that involves the loss of responsiveness to stimulus that conveys little or no information.
Habituation attributes? (2)
- Animal learns not to respond to stimulus due to frequent encounter without important consequence.
- For an animal to habituate, it has to be exposed to the same stimulus.
Eg of Habituation?
Bird stops responding to alarm call from conspecifics, if calls are not followed by an actual attack.
Classical conditioning?
= when an individual learns to associate an unconditioned stimulus with a conditioned stimulus but receives no benefits from doing so.
Classical conditioning attributes? (2)
- Animal learns to give a response normally elicited by one stimulus to a new stimulus because the two stimuli are repeatedly paired.
- Has prerequisites/criteria to be done well.
Prerequisites/Criteria for classical conditioning to be achieved? (3)
- Order of presentation is important (CS must precede US).
- Time interval between the CS & US is important (abt 0.5s).
- Signal must be specific (CS must precede US more often than it does other stimuli).
Why is time interval between the CS & US important?
It’s because extinction of the association may occur if it’s more than 0.5s.
Unconditioned stimulus (US)?
= stimulus which “naturally” elicits an unconditioned response.
Eg of an US?
Food is an unconditioned stimulus which elicits a salivating response in dogs.
Classical conditioning is AKA?
Pavlovian conditioning.
Operant conditioning?
= associative learning in which an animal learns to associate one of its behaviours with a reward or punishment.
Operant conditioning is AKA? (2)
- Instrumental conditioning.
- Trial-and-error learning.
Egs of Operant conditioning? (2)
- A rat fed after pushing a lever will learn to push the lever in order to receive food.
- Predator may learn to avoid specific types of prey associated with a painful experience (Blue jays).
Skinner’s rats experiment? (2)
- In a Skinner box, a rat presses a lever in an operant conditioning chamber to receive a food reward.
- Skinner’s rats learn that by pressing the lever a reward will follow..
Explain Blue jays? (2)
- Blue jay learns not to eat monarch butterflies & has a vomiting reaction.
- Shows that operant conditioning is not always followed by a reward but also a punishment.
Spatial learning?
= learning in which a new behaviour is acquired but not demonstrated immediately until reinforcement is provided.
Spatial learning is AKA?
Latent learning.
Spatial learning attributes? (2)
- Learning occurs but not shown in behaviour immediately, until conditions for emergence are favourable.
- No reward & no immediate response by animal
Eg of Spatial learning?
Wasps use landmarks to find nests.
Explain Tinbergen’s wasp experiment? (2)
- Wasp used pinecones as landmarks to locate its nest.
- Observed after swapping around the pinecones.
Insight learning?
= learning/problem solving that happens through understanding the relationship between the various parts of a problem, rather through trial & error.
Insight learning attributes? (5)
- Highest form of learning.
- No room for trial & error.
- Animal draws on information gained in previous similar situations to arrive at a solution to the problem.
- May be possible due to a larger brain (complex thinking).
- Not time sensitive like operant conditioning.
Eg of Insightful learning?
Kohler’s chimps.
Explain Kohler’s chimps? (2)
- Chimp had to reach bananas that were high up & was given crates.
- In order to reach the bananas, chimp stacked the crates and successfully obtained the bananas.
Social learning?
= learning through observation of others.
Kinds of social learning? (2)
- Imitation.
- Emulation.
Imitation?
= occurs by observing & replicating.
Emulation?
= occurs by observing & achieving the same result but not in the exact manner observed.
Social learning attributes? (2)
- Cultural transmission.
- Allows for new learned behaviour to spread between individuals & within populations, without the need for genetic inheritance.
Cultural transmission?
= process of passing on socially learned information (behaviour).
Play?
= learning that is expressed in various ways such as mock fighting & enhances the survival of an individual.
Ways in which Play is expressed? (4)
- Mock fighting.
- Chasing.
- Exercise.
- Manipulation of toys.
Functions of Play? (3)
- Physiological.
- Social.
- Cognitive.
Physiological function of Play?
= improves physical condition.
Social function of Play?
= develops social skills & bonds.
Cognitive function of Play?
= helps animals learn & perfect skills.
Adaptive value of Habituation?
Adaptive value of Sensitization?
Adaptive value of Classical conditioning?
Adaptive value of Operant conditioning?
Adaptive value of Spatial learning?
- To increase survival of the animal.
- To save time looking for food/its shelter (nesting place)/resources.
Adaptive value of Insightful learning?
Adaptive value of Social learning?
Adaptive value of Play?
Important things to note about learning? (4)
1) Think about how the theory is applicable in the natural environment (know how to apply them).
2) Know how these learning processes work.
3) Know the adaptive/survival values of each learning processes.
4) Understand & know how these learning processes are affected by changing environments.
Types of “information transfer”/”ways in which information is transferred/learned”? (3)
- Vertical learning.
- Parallel learning.
- Oblique learning.
Vertical learning?
= learning from parents to child.
Parallel learning?
= learning from peers/siblings.
Oblique learning?
= learning from strangers/anyone.
Pros of vertical learning? (2)
- Is correct & reliable information.
- It reduces the need for trial & error.
Cons of parallel & oblique learning? (2)
- Is incorrect & unreliable information.
- Increases trail & error.
