Wk 2: Motivation Flashcards
4 types of explanations for behaviour (Niko Tinbergen)
Casual
Developmental
Evolutionary - instinctual
Functional - exploring
What can affect the expression of behaviour?
Internal and External casual factors
What is the study of motivation?
How the internal and external casual factors interact to determine the likelihood that a behaviour is expressed
Examples with a cat and a box
cat awake and excited - jump in and out of box
cat is tired - sleep in box
same external casual stimuli, different motivation (internal casual factor)
Why was the ‘black box’ models developed?
To describe motivational processes (interactions between internal and external causal factors) and predict behaviour outcomes (Konrad Lorenz)
Explain the ‘psychohydraulic apparatus’ (lavatory pan model)
Motivation to perform becomes stronger the more the internal causal factor is ignored
Strong internal causal factor can trigger behaviour
Criticism for the ‘psychohydraulic apparatus’ (lavatory pan model)
What is accumulating in the NS?
Concept of energy, fluid energy in the NS is misleading
How does feedback affect control of behaviour
Explain the feedback & control of behaviour model
Dog and Food example
If no feedback process dog will become overweight and ill - stomach distention, mechanoreceptors trigger this
Explain the homeostatic models of the motivational control of behaviour
animal has ideal value set according to physiological state and an actual value (eg. body temp) comparison between these things trigger a behaviour to return to the ideal value - negative feedback model (homeostasis)
From a motivational perspective, welfare problems are likely when?
Animals are prevented from performing a motivated behaviour
Animals are able to perform the behaviour but are prevented from achieving functional consequence/goal
Animals are provided the functional consequences but unable to perform the behaviour (do not link to theory)
Knowing the two models of motivation, can you link which models links with each welfare problem (from a motivational perspective)
Animals are prevented from performing a motivated behaviour - Lorenz
Animals are able to perform the behaviour but are prevented from achieving functional consequence/goal - Control Theory
Animals are prevented from performing a motivated behaviour - Lorenz
True or False
Motivation to perform a behaviour with time since it was last performed
True in terms of feeding & dribking
Not for others that may be more difficult to perform in captivity
Animals are prevented from performing a motivated behaviour - Lorenz
What happens if a behaviour is left to build up and it cannot be performed when stimulated by an internal causal factor?
A build-up of motivation = Welfare problems in the form of abnormal behaviour
Vacuum behaviour - behaviour performed in the absence of an appropriate substrate
Animals are prevented from performing a motivated behaviour - Lorenz
What happens if the animal is allowed to express the suppressed behaviour after a long period of time?
Can cause ‘Rebound behaviour’ where they perform the behaviour more frequently
Animals are prevented from performing a motivated behaviour - Lorenz
What happens if a calf is unable to express its normal suckling behaviour?
Prepuce or Pen sucking can occur
Animals are prevented from performing a motivated behaviour - Lorenz
However, in terms of external causal factors what is the effect of suppression?
May not have those effects, eg:
Aggression in sows when they experience an intruder, there is no evidence that there will be a build-up of expressing behaviour
Animals are able to perform the behaviour but are prevented from achieving functional consequence/goal - Control Theory
Prediction?
Functional consequences are prevented, target value of the system is not achieved, behaviour continues, eg;
cat attempts to defend home area may be undermined by the presence of a cat flap causing increased marking/urination; anxiety-like behaviour
Animals are able to perform the behaviour but are prevented from achieving functional consequence/goal - Control Theory
Solution?
Provide opportunities to achieve functional consequences of actions can prevent welfare problems, eg;
escape an aggressive situation - pigs fighting
Are functional consequences on their own enough to satisfy a highly motivated animal?
Control Theory/Homeostatic Model prediction:
Functional consequences of behaviour decrease high levels of motivation allowing animals to achieve ideal/set point
Are functional consequences on their own enough to satisfy a highly motivated animal?
Lorenz Model prediction:
Expression of behaviour is the only way to decrease high levels of motivation
From a motivational perspective, welfare problems are especially likely when what kind of behaviour arises?
Primarily motivated by internal causal factors
Although models of motivation illustrate principles by which behaviour can be controlled, what don’t they tell us about?
Neural Mechanisms
What can measure motivations allows us to do?
Access and avoid things telling us the animals ‘wants’ and help design appropriate housing
