Challenges to the Behaviorists

problem-solving (Thorndike)

problem-solving is due to trial-and-error learning

problem-solving (Köhler)

problem-solving is insightful

cognitive maps (Tolman)

animals have mental maps of physical spaces

observational learning (Bandura)

observing others’ behavior can affect your own behavior; vicarious reinforcement

preparedness (Garcia)

animals have an inborn tendency to associate certain stimuli with certain consequences

instinctual drift (the Brelands)

instinctual ways of behaving are able to override behaviors learned through operant conditioning

ethology

the study of animal behavior under natural conditions; usually concerned with species-specific/species-typical behaviors

fixed-action pattern (FAP)

a stereotyped behavior sequence that does not have to be learned by an animal

sign stimuli

features of a stimulus sufficient to trigger a particular FAP

releaser

a sign stimulus that triggers social behaviors between animals

supernormal stimulus

a model more effective at triggering a FAP than the actual sign stimulus found in nature

innate releasing mechanism (IRM)

a mechanism in the animal’s nervous system that connects sign stimuli with the correct FAPs

reproductive fitness

type of fitness that takes into account the number of offspring that live to be old enough to reproduce; altruism is problematic

inclusive fitness

type of fitness that takes into account the number of offspring that live to be old enough to reproduce and the number of other relatives who live to reproductive age; altruism is not problematic

sociobiology

studies how various social behaviors increase fitness