ethological explanation

• What does ethology seek to understand?

  Innate behaviour of animals in their natural environment
• How do ethologists account for animal behaviour?

  In terms of its adaptive value to the specific species
• How can studying animal behaviour help us understand human behaviour?

  By providing insights into innate behaviours
• Who used the behaviour of geese to explain attachment in humans?

  Lorenz
• What is believed about aggression in animal species?

  It is an innate behaviour beneficial to the organism
• Why is aggression considered vital for animals?

  It helps establish dominance hierarchies and access to resources
• What did Lorenz propose about aggression in animals?

  That it is ritualistic and more adaptive than direct aggression
• What is the effect of ritualistic aggression like 'teeth-baring'?

  It deters an opponent without causing physical harm
• What is the innate releasing mechanism (IRM)?

  A built-in neural structure that triggers automatic behavioural responses
• What is the sequence of aggressive behaviour called that follows an IRM?

  Fixed action pattern (FAP)
• What happens when a dog sees a cat running away?

  The dog's instinctive response is to chase the cat
• What triggers the innate releasing mechanism in dogs?

  The stimuli of a cat running
• What is the procedure used in the research on male sticklebacks?

  Presenting them with wooden models of different shapes
• What was the sign stimulus that triggered aggressive behaviours in sticklebacks?

  The sight of a red spot on their belly
• What did Tinbergen find about sticklebacks and aggression?

  They displayed aggression regardless of the model's shape if it had a red spot
• What happens to the fixed action pattern once it is triggered?

  It must run its course to completion without further stimulus
• What did Nisbett's research demonstrate about aggression?

  Cultural differences affect responses to insults
• What did Goodall's research find about chimpanzee aggression?

  It is not always ritualistic and can involve systematic slaughtering
• What is a limitation of the ethological explanation for aggression?

  Not all action patterns are fixed; learning and environment can create variation
• What are modal action patterns?

  • Instinctual behaviours that vary among individuals
  • Example: Some dogs chase cats while others do not
  • Differences may arise from training or selective breeding