PSYO 2160 Study Guide - Final Guide: Ethology
24 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Gadbois et all. (2014)
Introduction notes
- Traditional Ethology has always had a focus on structure and form, and it was concerned
with the following behavior patterns:
1) Instinctive behavior patterns.
2) Inherited coordination.
3) Inborn skills.
4) Species-typical or species-specific behavior patterns.
5) Innate or instinctive behaviors.
6) Grammar.
7) Syntax.
8) Action or motor patterns.
9) Motor programs.
10) Movement or action sequences.
11) And many more…
- Fixed action patterns (FAPs) refers to the concept of predictable, genetically
predetermined and rigid sequences. with time FAPs have been referred as modal action
pattern (MAPs).
- We can still observed these “old behaviors” with species that have been developing in
captivity over generations (ex: dogs trying to bury a toy in a hard floor).
Evolution of FAPs into MAPs
- This evolution occurred to loosen-up the definition of FAPs to expand basic assumptions.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Fixed action patterns (faps) refers to the concept of predictable, genetically predetermined and rigid sequences. with time faps have been referred as modal action pattern (maps). We can still observed these old behaviors with species that have been developing in captivity over generations (ex: dogs trying to bury a toy in a hard floor). This evolution occurred to loosen-up the definition of faps to expand basic assumptions. It is important to understand that faps are uninterruptable behaviors, are not behaviors that can be learnt (they are already known since birth), and that there shouldn"t be any individual differences. Maps helped loosen up the following points: the length of the behavior pattern, the simplicity of the original fap and its historical evolution. (plus degrees of freedom). The two points above were a problem because it was thought that a simple trigger should trigger a simple reaction (or a fap), meaning that faps shouldn"t last more than a couple of seconds seconds.
