Questions and Answers
What is Ethology?
The study of animal behavior
What is Natural Selection?
The process that awards survival and reproductive success to individuals and groups best adjusted to their environment
Who is Charles Darwin?
A British scientist who revolutionized much of the study related to biology and ethology.
What does Innate mean?
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What is the nature-nurture controversy?
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What is operant conditioning?
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What is stimulus-response theory?
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What is an unconditioned response?
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What is an unconditioned stimulus?
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What is wobble in animal training?
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What is sociobiology?
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What is a sensitive period?
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What is instrumental learning?
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What does imprinting refer to?
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What is separation anxiety in pets?
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What are the two general categories of conditioned learning recognized by behaviorists?
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What is positive reinforcement?
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What is negative reinforcement?
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What are the two kinds of punishment?
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What is the effective way to use punishment for behavior modification?
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What is the critical socialization period in dogs?
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What are common behavioral problems with pets?
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What is conflict-related aggression?
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What is fear-induced aggression?
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What is dominance aggression?
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What is the command-response-reward technique?
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What is extinction in behavior modification?
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Study Notes
Animal Behavior Concepts
- Ethology: The study of animal behavior.
- Natural Selection: Process that favors survival and reproductive success of individuals best suited to their environment.
- Charles Darwin: British scientist who laid the foundations of classical ethology, highlighting that much animal behavior is instinctive.
Learning Theories and Concepts
- Innate Behavior: Refers to instinctive behaviors that are not learned.
- Nature-Nurture Controversy: Debate between classical ethology (instinctive behavior) and animal psychology (learned behavior).
- Operant Conditioning: A learning process where behaviors are modified based on reinforcement or punishment.
- Stimulus-Response Theory: Asserts that behaviors are complex responses that can be measured.
Conditioning Types
- Unconditioned Response: A simple, reflexive behavior not learned.
- Unconditioned Stimulus: Sensory input that triggers an unconditioned response.
- Conditioned Stimulus: Sensory input that is associated with a response through conditioning.
- Classical Conditioning: Learning where stimuli are associated based on their timing and proximity, related to Pavlov's experiments.
- Instrumental Learning: Learning that involves trial and error.
Behavioral Patterns
- Fixed Action Patterns: Predictable behaviors characteristic of a species.
- Imprinting: Early-stage learning allowing young animals to recognize parents or caregivers.
Behavioral Issues and Treatments
- House Soiling: Urination or defecation indoors.
- Separation Anxiety: Anxiety experienced by pets when away from their owners.
- Fear-Induced Aggression: Aggression resulting from fear, often observed in stressful situations.
Training Techniques
- Positive Reinforcement: Immediate pleasant consequence following desired behavior.
- Negative Reinforcement: Immediate unpleasant consequence used to shape behavior.
- Punishment: Techniques used to reduce undesirable behaviors.
Behavior Modification Strategies
- Trust, Reward, Reprimand, Consistency: Key elements in effective behavioral therapy.
- Command-Response-Reward Technique: Immediate rewards for desired responses; avoidance of punishment is encouraged.
- Extinction: Removing reinforcement to eliminate problem behaviors.
- Aversion Therapy: Associating unpleasant stimuli with undesirable behaviors.
- Counterconditioning: Replacing undesirable behaviors with desirable ones.
Hormonal and Environmental Modifications
- Hormonal Therapy: Use of gonadal hormones to address behavior issues.
- Environmental Modification: Adjusting an animal's environment to encourage desirable behaviors, such as modifying litter box locations for cats.
Developmental Stages
- Sensitive Period: A crucial stage in an animal's life for socialization and learning.
- Critical Socialization Period: Specific ages in puppies (four to fourteen weeks) and kittens (two to eight weeks) crucial for proper sociability.
Types of Aggression
- Territorial Aggression: Hostility toward non-household members.
- Maternal Aggression: Aggressive behavior exhibited by mothers, particularly post-partum.
Key Figures in Animal Behavior
- Ivan Pavlov: Key figure in classical conditioning, linking stimuli to responses in animals.
- John B. Watson: Developed stimulus-response theory, emphasizing observable behaviors.
- B.F. Skinner: Pioneered operant conditioning and behavior shaping through reinforcement.
- Konrad Lorenz: Studied fixed action patterns and imprinting processes in animals.
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Description
Explore key concepts in animal behavior with these flashcards tailored for Penn Foster's Vet Tech program. Learn about ethology, natural selection, and influential figures like Charles Darwin. Perfect for veterinary students seeking to enhance their understanding of animal behavior.