PSYO 2160 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Ontogeny, Hertz, Neocortex
25 May 2018
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Department
Course
Professor
Play
- some researches says that animals actually don’t play.
- And if they do so play is defined as behaviors we do not understand.
Burghardt 2005
“ Play is repeated, incompletely functional behavior differing from more serious versions
structurally, contextually, or ontogenetically, and initiated voluntarily when the animal is in a
relaxed or low-stress setting”
Criteria
1) the adaptive functions of play are not fully evident at the time play occurs.
2) Play is spontaneous activity, done for it’s own sake, because it is fun (pleasurable).
3) Play is an exaggerated and incomplete form of adult activities. (Such parts of a hunting
sequence).
4) Play exhibits many repetitive activities done with abundant variations, unlike serious
behaviors that are not as flexible.
5) Animals must be well fed, comfortable, and healthy for play to occur, and all stressors
reduce play.
Is play purposeless?
1) Observers fail to decipher purpose.
2) Purpose and benefit may not be accrued until long after play has occurred.
3) Benefits may be multiple and confounding.
Play can be costly
Harcourt 1991
- juveniles spent 6% of their time playing.
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- 22 out of 26 were killed at playtime.
- Regardless, ALL mammals play. (There must be a benefit/function).
- It’s hard to understand the purposes of play because it may vary across species and even
across individuals of the same species. (benefits might be different across individual,
sexes…)
Function of play?
Spinka et all 2001
- helps develop movement skills or addictiveness in case regular postures are disrupted.
- Prepares the animal to deal with real possible threatening or stressing situation
Non-social hypotheses
- Young learn physical skills like hunting, foraging, etc…
- Predators engage in “object play” rather than playing with each other.
- Prey species exhibit running with rapid twists and turns.
Social hypothesis
- Aggressive, courting, sexual, competitive, parenting skills. (to be a successful adult).
- Allows animal to determine who to form social relationships and who to avoid.
Types of plays
1) Object play:
- use of inanimate objects.
- Common in captive animals (specially hunters).
- Differs from object exploration.
Fuction? = to learn something about an object that helps them in the short term or long term.
Heinrich 1995
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find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Play some researches says that animals actually don"t play. And if they do so play is defined as behaviors we do not understand. Play is repeated, incompletely functional behavior differing from more serious versions structurally, contextually, or ontogenetically, and initiated voluntarily when the animal is in a relaxed or low-stress setting . Is play purposeless: observers fail to decipher purpose, purpose and benefit may not be accrued until long after play has occurred, benefits may be multiple and confounding. Harcourt 1991 juveniles spent 6% of their time playing. 22 out of 26 were killed at playtime. Regardless, all mammals play. (there must be a benefit/function). It"s hard to understand the purposes of play because it may vary across species and even across individuals of the same species. (benefits might be different across individual, sexes ) Helps develop movement skills or addictiveness in case regular postures are disrupted. Prepares the animal to deal with real possible threatening or stressing situation.
