ethological explanation

Question 1

what is ethology

Answer 1

study of how forces of evolution have adapted the behaviour of animals

Question 2

ethological explanation

Answer 2

seeks to understand the innate behaviour of animals by studying them in their natural environment

Question 3

adaptive functions

Answer 3

1. a defeated animal is rarely killed
   - just forced to establish territory elsewhere
2. dominance hierarchies

Question 4

dominance hierarchies

Answer 4

male chimpanzees use agg to clomb their troops social hierarchy
- dominance gives special status like for mating rights

Question 5

Pettit et al

Answer 5

found dominance hierarchies in humans too
- observed agg in development in some children’s dominance over others
- naturally selected, benefits like getting your way and access to resources

Question 6

ritualistic aggression

Answer 6

a series of behaviours carried out in a set order
- Lorenz found agg encounters consisted of ritualistic signalling instead of physical damage
- most end w appeasement display

Question 7

examples of ritualistic aggression

Answer 7

at the end of agg confrontation, wolf will expose its neck to the victor
- deliberately makes itself vulnerable to a single bite
- bc if every encounter = death, could threaten existence of the species

Question 8

innate releasing mechanisms

Answer 8

built in physiological process or structure
- eg. network of neurons in the brain
- environmental stimuli triggers IRM which releases a specific sequence of behaviours

Question 9

fixed action pattern

Answer 9

the specific sequence of behaviours released by the IRM

Question 10

features of a FAP (6)

Answer 10

1. stereotyped, or unchanging sequence
2. universal, found in all members of species
3. unaffected by learning, same for all regardless of experience
4. ballistic, once initiated, cant be stopped until complete
5. single-purpose, only occurs in specific situation
6. tiggered by certain known stimuli

Question 11

order of IRM and FAP

Answer 11

1. environmental stimuli (triggers)
2. innate releasing mechanism (causes)
3. fixed action pattern (sequence triggered)

Question 12

IRM and FAP male stickleback fish

Answer 12

• very territorial during mating season and develop a red spot on underbelly
• if another male enters their territory FAP initiated
• the sign stimulus that activates it is the red spot

Question 13

research into male stickleback

Answer 13

Tinbergen
- presented series of wooden models in diff shapes
- if model had a red spot stickleback would attack it, regardless of shape
- if no red spot, no aggression
- FAP’s unchanging one encounter to another

Question 14

supporting evaluation

Answer 14

1. Brunner et al
   - says low activity MAOA related to agg behaviour in humans = suggests innate basis for agg behaviour
   - further evidence of activity in limbic system shown to trigger aggressive behaviour in humans
   - ethological says egg is genetically determined and heritable

Question 15

opposing evaluation

Answer 15

1. FAPs are not that fixed
2. unjustified generalisation to humans

Question 16

FAPs are not that fixed

Answer 16

Hunt points out sequences of behaviour that appear to be fixed and unchanging are infact greatly influenced by environmental factors and learning experiences

Question 17

unjustified generalisation to human

Answer 17

Lorenz and Tinbergen didnt study high mammals (similar to humans)
- but they made generalisation ab agg behaviour to humans
- Lorenz even extrapolated from from one animal to entire countries