Behavioral Biology

Chapter 55

Behavior• Two types of behavior:

– Learned– Innate

• Instinctive, does not require learning

2

Innate Behavior• Response to environmental changes

– Circadian rhythm

– Seasonal responses

3

Innate Behavior

• Communication between animals

– Pheromones

– Visual displays during courtship

– Species recognition calls

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Innate Behavior

• Social behavior

– Agonistic behavior

– Dominance hierarchies

– Territoriality

– Altruistic behavior

5

Learning• “Altered behavior as a result of previous experiences”• There are four basic kinds of learning:

– Imprinting– Classical conditioning– Operant conditioning– Insight

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Imprinting• “A rapid learning

process by which a newborn or very young animal establishes a social attachment to other individuals that will influence behavior later in life”

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Classical conditioning• Also called Pavlovian conditioning

• Two different kinds of stimuli are given. The animal forms a connection between them.

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Operant conditioningThe animal learns to associate its behavior

response with a reward or punishment– B.F. Skinner and the Skinner box

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Reinforcement

• In order for an animal to learn, they need reinforcement.

• There are 3 types:– Positive– Negative– Punishment

Insight• “The ability to figure

out a behavior that will create a desired outcome”.

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Nature vs Nurture• Deals with the contribution that heredity

makes to behavior

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