Lessons 05-10 Flashcards
(27 cards)
Altruism
Individuals of a species engage in selfless behaviour that benefits other at a cost to themselves.
Hamilton’s Rule of Kin Selection
The closer the genetic relationship, the higher the likelihood of altruistic behaviour, as this increases the chance of shared genes being passed on to the next generation.
Trivers’ Theory of Reciprocal Altruism
Reciprocal altruism occurs when an individual helps another with the expectation that the favour will be returned in the future.
When is Reciprocal Altruism beneficial?
(3)
- The benefit to the recipient is greater than the cost to the altruist.
- There is an opportunity for the roles to be reversed in the future.
- The individuals are likely to encounter each other again, so they remember and reciprocate favours.
Example of altruism
Honeybee: Worker bees suppress their own reproduction to help the queen bee and her offspring.
Example of Reciprocal Altruism
Primates engage in grooming, often directing it towards individuals higher in the dominance hierarchy.
The groomed individual may offer protection in future conflicts.
Atypical Behaviour
Behaviour outside the normal activities expected for a situation.
Natural Behaviour
Actions they would typically exhibit in their natural environment.
Displacement Behaviour
Apparent irrelevance to a situation in which a behaviour occurs.
Example of a Displacement Behaviour
- Grooming in many species is a self-appeasing behaviour and is therefore often exhibited in stressful situations.
- Preening, scratching, yawning, grooming, sniffing
Stereotypical Behaviour
Fixed sequences of behaviour, performed over and over with no obvious function.
Why might an animal perform a Stereotypical Behaviour?
Animal is not necessarily stressed at that moment but was stressed at some point in its lifetime.
Redirected Aggression
Redirected aggression occurs when an individual or animal cannot express aggression towards the source of their arousal or frustration and instead directs it towards a less threatening or more accessible target.
Example of a Stereotypie
Pacing, overgrooming, rocking, weaving, licking
Causes of atypical behaviour
(3)
- Confinement
- Unsutaible enclosure or environment
- Innapropriate social grouping
How can confinement cause atypical behaviour?
(2)
- Small spaces
- Insufficient exercise opportunities
How can unsuitable enclosure or environment cause atypical behaviour?
(3)
- Lack of enrichment
- Barren environment
- Not enough space to roam/fly/climb
- No outside area
- Unable to forage/browse
- Too many animals in the space
How can inappropriate social grouping cause atypical behaviour?
- Forced social groups
- Too many animals
- Solitary species kept with others
- Social species kept alone
- Incorrect social structures
- Different species housed together
- Clashing personalities
Hyperactivity (Hyperkinesis)
- Attention deficit disorder
- Linked to disruptions in neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine
Signs of Hyperactivity (Hyperkinesis)
(3)
- Impulsive
- Destructive behaviour
- Constant movement
- Short attention span
- Chasing own tail
- Spinning
- Attention seeking
What can hyperactivity be caused by?
(3)
- Environment – may be chaotic and lack structure
- Being around excited small children (can potentially copy behaviour)
- Lack of contact
- Lack of exercise
- Poor diet
- Genetics
- Medical issue
Excessive Inactivity
- Prolonged periods of inactivity
- Lack of response to stimuli
What can excessive inactivity be caused by?
- Lack of social opportunities
- Boredom – lack of stimulation
- Poor health/diet/living conditions
Why might pain lead to the development of atypical behaviours?
Increased aggression, self-isolation, over grooming.
