ANIMAL BEHAVIORS

I. ANIMAL BEHAVIORS Ethology: the study of animal behavior Behavior (response to a stimulus)is influenced by: – Hormones – Nervous system Divided into two types of behavior – Innate Behavior – Learned Behavior

A. Innate Behavior Innate Behavior: behavior that is performed correctly the first time an animal does it – Animal does not have to be taught – “instincts” or “born” behaviors Examples: – Territoriality – Protective behaviors – Courting behaviors – Hibernation/migration

B. Learned Behavior Learned Behavior: are a result of an animals experience – “acquired” behavior – Longer life span and longer period of parental care equals more learned behaviors 4 basic types of learning – Habituation – Classical conditioning – Operant conditioning – Insight learning

1. Habituation Habituation: – Animal is neither benefited nor harmed by a stimulus – Animal learns to ignore the stimulus Wonder if you can become “habituated” to the sound of your alarm clock?

2. Classical Conditioning Classical Conditioning: – Animal will make a mental connection between a stimulus and some kind of reward/punishment Ivan Pavlov and his “dog” experiment – He noticed dogs salivated – He taught the dogs to associate receiving food with the sound of a bell – Eventually, after many repetitions, he got the dog to salivate at the sound of the bell alone

3. Operant Conditioning Operant Conditioning: – Animal learns to repeat behaviors that result in reward, and avoid those that end in punishment – “trial-and-error” learning – This learning begins with “random behavior” – Many animals use this type of learning to identify sources of food

4. Insight Learning Insight Learning: – Most complicated form of learning – When an animal applies something it’s already learned to a new situation

C. Social Behavior Social Behavior: – When animals interact with members of their own species – Example is “communal grooming” that you see among apes/chimpanzees/etc – Example is aggressive posturing among dogs before they fight – These behaviors often reinforce group hierarchies (leadership roles) and can improve chances of survival