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Social Interactions
Animal Behaviors
Behavioral Controls
Genetic: Instincts, hormonal
controls.
Learned: Imprinting, classical and
operant conditioning, habituation,
spatial learning, insight learning.
Genetic Controls
Reflexes are controlled by genes.
Instinctive behaviors also have a
genetic control.
Hormones that guide behavior are
coded in the genes.
Hybridization experiments with
animals can result in “hybrid”
instinctual behaviors.
Instincts
Sign stimuli: Hardwired response to
well-defined clues. Results in a
fixed-action pattern.
Learned Behaviors
Imprinting: Exposure to stimuli
early in development.
Learned Behaviors
Conditioning: Associating an action
with a result.
Classical Conditioning
Operant Conditioning (Trial and
error)
Learned Behaviors
Habituation: Learning by experience
NOT to respond to a stimulus.
Learned Behaviors
Spatial Learning: Acquiring a mental
map after observing an environment
and learning the local landmarks.
Learned Behaviors
Conceptual Learning: Forming an
abstract generalization; pattern
recognition.
Learned Behaviors
Insight learning: Solving a problem
without trial-and-error, usually by
thinking a problem through.
Communication
Signals
Chemical signals, such as
pheromones.
Displays
Threat
Courtship
Tactile
Reproductive
Behavior
Sexual selection: choosing a quality
mate.
Parenting strategies
Many offspring, little care
Few offspring, much care
Social Groups
Benefits
Defense against predators
Cooperative care of young
Cooperative hunting
Costs
Some do not get to reproduce
Some are more likely to become
prey.
Diseases spread faster.