How are Instinct and Learning Involved in Animal Behavior?

1. How are Instinct and Learning Involved in Animal Behavior? • Ethology: the study of animal behavior • Evolutionary based theories of behavior developed 1950s (1973 Nobel Prize for Science): Karl von Frisch: mainly studied waggle dance of bees; Konrad Lorenz: mainly studied geese (modal action patterns, imprinting); Niko Tinbergen: mainly studied threat display of sticklebacks (fish) • Innate behavior (instinct): genetically determined behaviors • Modal Action Patterns: genetically influenced behaviors • Characterized by stereotypical pattern, central nervous system integration, independence from feedback once initiated, and heritability (ex. angel sharks will strike at a fingertip just after birth) • Displacement and Ritualization: conflicting stimuli lead to “out of context” behaviors; patterns become exaggerated, repetitive, and stereotyped • Ex., courtship displays of ducks (head under wing) evolved from ritualization of out- of-context preening behavior • Learned Behaviors: behavior modified via experience • Habituation: response to an un-rewarded stimulus ceases • Imprinting: social bonding to parent; occurs in specific (early) period • Conditioning: learning by association (ex. Pavlov with dogs and bells) • Trial and Error and Insight: regarding responses to new situations

2. Figure 51.3