Nature vs. Nurture✔✔born with- need for food, flight, fight vs learned behavior
animals respond to their environment by...✔✔using their senses
animals are driven to...✔✔survive and reproduce
proximate causation✔✔mechanisms that are the reason for behavior. increased
level of testosterone. neural connections
ultimate or evolutionary causation✔✔why did this behavior evolve, determine how
behavioral influences reproduction succes or survival
ethology✔✔study of the natural history of behavior. animal behavior, particularly in
natural environments
innate behavior✔✔instinctive, does not require learning. Preset paths and nervous
system. Genetic- fixed action pattern. Goose replacing egg from her nest. Egg
retrieval behavior is triggered by a key or sign stimulus. Innate releasing mechanism
involves a stimulus and triggering of motor program. (fixed action pattern)
behavior✔✔the nervous systems response to a stimulus and carried out by muscular
or hormonal system. helps animal obtain resources, find partner, maintain
homeostasis, avoid danger. It is subject to evolution by natural selection
kinesis✔✔environmental cues can trigger movement
taxis✔✔Semi automatic oriented movement toward or away from a stimulus.
positive- trying to do something for the benefit of something. personal benefit
negative- avoid negative outcome. avoid something bad from happening but could
be still doing something good
mice fosB gene✔✔determines whether female mice nurture their young
Oxytocin✔✔bonding hormone
altered behavior is a result of...✔✔previous experiences
associative learning✔✔Association between two stimuli or between the stimulus and
response. Conditioned behavior through association
Classical or Pavlovian Conditioning✔✔Parent presentation of two different kinds of
stimuli with association formed between them.
operant conditioning✔✔Animal learns to associate its behavior response with a
reward or punishment. Learning through risk and reward. Learn after the fact