Determinants of Animal Behaviour

Are animals intelligent? How do they learn to solve everyday survival problems? Can they be intentionally deceptive? The investigation of animal behavior is an important and fascinating aspect of comparative psychology. Firstly the evolutionary explanations of animal behavior are discussed, including the biological explanations of apparent altruism. Secondly the nature of classical and operant conditioning in animal behavior is considered and finally the role of social learning in animals is investigated. Real-life examples are used throughout the book to illustrate the arguments presented.Determinants of Animal Behaviouris an ideal introductory text to the subject, full of real-life examples and both traditional and cutting-edge research. It will be of interest to all students new to comparative psychology and highly accessible to anyone wishing to know more about the diversity and ingenuity of animal behavior.

List of illustrations

xi

Preface

xiii

Acknowledgements

xv

Introduction

1

(10)

What is non-human animal behaviour?

1

(1)

Why study animal behaviour?

2

(2)

The role of evolution in animal behaviour

2

(1)

Benefits gained from studying animal behaviour

3

(1)

How do we study animal behaviour?

4

(5)

The ethological method of studying animal behaviour

5

(1)

The laboratory experimental method of studying animal behaviour

5

(1)

Points to note when studying animal behaviour

6

(3)

Summary

9

(2)

Evolutionary explanations of animal behaviour

11

(34)

An introduction to evolutionary theory

11

(3)

A basic introduction to evolutionary theory

12

(2)

Genetic and environmental determinants of behaviour

14

(1)

Applying the theory of evolution

14

(1)

Introduction to altruism

15

(2)

Does altruism exist in the animal kingdom?

16

(1)

Evolutionary explanations of apparent altruism

17

(14)

Group selection theory

17

(1)

An evaluation of group selection theory

18

(1)

Kin selection theory

18

(1)

Evidence for kin selection theory

19

(2)

An evaluation of kin selection theory

21

(1)

Explanations of kin recognition

22

(2)

Conclusion on kin selection theory

24

(1)

Reciprocal altruism theory

24

(3)

Manipulated altruism (or social parasitism)

27

(2)

Conclusion on evolutionary explanations of altruism

29

(2)

Evolutionary explanations of territoriality

31

(11)

An introduction to territorial behaviour

31

(1)

Explanation of territorial behaviour as a means of gaining an adequate food source

32

(1)

Explanation of territorial behaviour as a means of gaining an adequate mate

32

(1)

Game theory as an evolutionary explanation for territorial behaviour

33

(7)

Evaluation of game theory

40

(1)

Conclusion on evolutionary explanations of territorial behaviour

41

(1)

Conclusion on evolutionary explanations of animal behaviour

42

(1)

The theory of co-evolution

43

(1)

Learning theory

43

(1)

Summary

43

(2)

Classical and operant conditioning

45

(38)

Introduction to conditioning theory

45

(1)

The nature of classical conditioning and its role in the behaviour of animals

46

(2)

An example of how classical conditioning can occur

47

(1)

The historical framework of classical conditioning

48

(10)

The basic principles of classical conditioning

50

(7)

Evaluation of classical conditioning

57

(1)

The historical framework of operant conditioning

58

(8)

Thorndike's theory of instrumental conditioning

59

(3)

Skinner's modification of Thorndike's theory of instrumental conditioning

62

(4)

The nature of operant conditioning and its role in the behaviour of animals

66

(15)

The procedures involved in operant conditioning research

66

(5)

An evaluation of operant conditioning

71

(3)

An evaluation of classical and operant conditioning

74

(5)

The biological importance of classical and operant conditioning

79

(1)

Similarities and differences in classical and operant conditioning

80

(1)

Summary

81

(2)

Social learning in animals

83

(36)

An introduction to social learning in animals

83

(2)

What is social learning?

83

(2)

Explanations relating to the role of social learning in animals

85

(2)

What role does social learning play in determining animal behaviour?

86

(1)

Research studies on social learning in animals

87

(6)

Naturalistic observational research as evidence for social learning in animals

88

(2)

Experimental research as evidence for social learning in animals

90

(2)

Evaluation of social learning in animals

92

(1)

Conclusion on social learning in animals

92

(1)

Intelligence in animals

93

(2)

What is intelligence?

93

(2)

Evidence for intelligent behaviour in animals

95

(21)

Tool fabrication and use in captive animals as evidence for intelligence

96

(2)

Evaluation of tool fabrication in captive animals as evidence for intelligence

98

(1)

Theory of mind as evidence for intelligence in animals

99

(16)

Overall conclusion on evidence for theory of mind in animals

115

(1)

Summary

116

(3)

Study skills

119

(16)

Improving your essay-writing skills

119

(2)

Practice essays

121

(6)

Key research summaries

127

(8)

Rescorla (1966) Predictability and number of pairings in Pavlovian fear conditioning

127

(2)

Tinbergen and Kruyt (1929) Study of the use of landmarks in homing behaviour in bee-killing digger wasps (Pilianthus triangulum)

129

(3)

Fiorito and Scotto (1992) Observational learning in Octopus vulgaris

132

(3)

Glossary

135

(6)

Bibliography

141

(6)

Index

147

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Determinants of Animal Behaviour

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials