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Unit 15: Aggression
15.3 Ethological Explanations of Aggression
15.3.1 Innate Releasing Mechanisms (IRMs)
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What is the adaptive value of sign stimuli in IRMs?
Identifies rivals or threats
IRMs are triggered by specific environmental
cues
IRM activation enables an aggressive
response
.
What is the function of IRM activation?
Initiates FAP
The
fixed action pattern
ensures defense of territory and resources.
The red belly of male stickleback fish is a sign stimulus that triggers
aggression
What are three types of innate behaviors?
IRMs, reflexes, instincts
Match the type of innate behavior with its description:
IRMs ↔️ Genetic neural circuits triggered by sign stimuli
Reflexes ↔️ Simple, involuntary responses to stimuli
Instincts ↔️ Complex, genetically determined behavior patterns
What triggers reflexes?
Direct interaction with stimuli
IRMs involve a complete sequence of
behavior
Instincts can be influenced by
learning
and environment.
What is an example of an IRM in male stickleback fish?
Attacking red-bellied rivals
Reflexes are highly predictable and
inflexible
What is an example of a reflex?
Knee jerk reflex
Unlike stickleback fish, humans have complex social and cultural factors influencing
aggression
What are innate releasing mechanisms (IRMs)?
Genetic neural circuits
Innate Releasing Mechanisms (IRMs) are triggered by specific environmental stimuli called
sign stimuli
Male stickleback fish display aggressive behavior towards other males due to the
red belly sign stimulus
What is a fixed action pattern (FAP)?
Stereotyped sequence of behaviors
When a sign stimulus activates an IRM, it triggers a fixed action pattern (FAP), which is a pre-programmed, stereotyped sequence of
behaviors
Match the components of IRMs with their descriptions:
Genetic neural circuits ↔️ Pre-programmed neural pathways
Sign stimuli ↔️ Environmental cues that trigger IRMs
Fixed action patterns ↔️ Stereotyped sequences of behavior
What environmental cue triggers aggressive behavior in male stickleback fish during mating season?
Red belly
Innate Releasing Mechanisms (IRMs) are activated by environmental stimuli known as sign stimuli or
releasers
Genetic
neural circuits
in IRMs are pre-programmed pathways in the brain.
What role do fixed action patterns (FAPs) play in IRMs?
Stereotyped behavioral sequences
Innate Releasing Mechanisms (IRMs) are triggered by environmental cues called sign stimuli, which then initiate a fixed action
pattern
Arrange the components of IRMs in the order they function:
1️⃣ Genetic neural circuits
2️⃣ Sign stimuli
3️⃣ Fixed action patterns
What triggers a fixed action pattern (FAP)?
Innate releasing mechanism
Sign stimuli are crucial environmental cues that activate IRMs, which then trigger a fixed action
pattern
The red belly of male stickleback fish acts as a
sign stimulus
to trigger aggressive behavior.
What is the sequence of aggressive behavior initiated by the red belly of male stickleback fish?
Attacking rival males
What does IRM stand for in animal behavior studies?
Innate Releasing Mechanism
IRMs are triggered by specific environmental cues known as
sign
The red belly of a male stickleback fish is an example of a sign stimulus that triggers an
IRM
.
What is the role of sign stimuli in activating IRMs?
Activate genetic neural circuits
Order the sequence of events from sign stimulus to fixed action pattern:
1️⃣ Sign stimulus is detected
2️⃣ IRM is activated
3️⃣ FAP is initiated
What does the red color of a male stickleback's belly specifically trigger?
Aggression
Sign stimuli
are highly specific to certain stimuli.
Why does the red belly of a male stickleback fish trigger aggression in other males?
To ensure mating territory
The red belly of a male stickleback fish is an example of a
sign
stimulus.
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