SHW - Pg. 3

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CH. 51: BEHAVIORAL BIOLOGY

1. Define the two basic types of behavior.
- Behaviors resulting from an animal’s muscular activity, such as a predator chasing a prey.
- Non-muscular activities are also behaviors (Ex. animal secretes a pheromone to attract opposite sex)

2. Compare and contrast instincts and reflexes.
- Reflexes are generally a reaction in response to a stimulus (not acquired through experience), aka genetic programming without environmental influence. Reacting w/o thinking
- Instinct is generally a response which was acquired through experience, aka programming with environmental influence. Reacting w/ thinking

3. What is a fixed action pattern?
- A sequence of unlearned behavioral acts that is essentially unchangeable and, once initiated, is usually carried to completion.

4. Describe the following behaviors:
a. Imprinting - type of behavior that includes learning and innate components and is generally irreversible.
b. Habituation - a very simple type of learning that involves a loss of responsiveness to stimuli that convey
little or no information.
c. Trial and Error - learning through tries and mistakes.
d. Associative Learning - the ability of animals to learn to associate one stimulus with another.
- Classical conditioning: learning to associate an arbitrary stimulus with a reward or punishment.
- Operant conditioning: trial-and-error learning, learning that directly affects behavior in a natural context.
e. Agnostic behavior - a type of behavior involving a contest of some kind that determines which competitor
gains access to some resource.
f. Dominance Hierarchy - A linear “pecking order” of animals, where position dictates char. social behavior g. Altruistic Behavior - The aiding of another individual at one’s own risk or expense.
g. Altruistic Behavior - The aiding of another individual at one’s own risk or expense.