Question 1

A genetically programmed bit of behavior that occurs when circumstances are appropriate and that require no learning is called:

Accepted Answer

An instinct is a genetically programmed behavior that occurs without the need for learning or experience. Habits are learned behaviors that are often repeated, but not necessarily genetically programmed. Imprinting is a type of learning that occurs during a critical period in an animal's life, and involves the formation of a social attachment to a particular stimulus. Inhabitation is not a recognized term in the context of animal behavior.

Question 2

Which of the following did William James NOT believe about instincts? Instincts were:

Accepted Answer

William James did not believe that instincts were only seen in animals. In fact, he believed that humans also had instincts, such as the instinct for self-preservation or the maternal instinct.

Question 3

A list of all behaviors observed in a species is called:

Accepted Answer

An ethogram is a comprehensive list of all behaviors observed in a species, including their frequency and context. It is a tool commonly used in ethology and animal behavior research to better understand the behavior of animals in their natural habitats. Choices B, C, and D are not commonly used terms in this context.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a property of a fixed action pattern? The fixed action pattern is:

Accepted Answer

A fixed action pattern is a sequence of innate behaviors that is stereotyped and independent of immediate external control. It is not entirely learned, as it is genetically determined and may be modified by experience but not completely replaced. It is not usually spontaneous, as it is triggered by external stimuli.

Question 5

Rowland's (1989) finding that female sticklebacks preferred dummy males who were larger than normal male sticklebacks fits ethological theory because it shows how:

Accepted Answer

Rowland's finding supports ethological theory by demonstrating that mate size is an important factor in the mate selection behavior of female sticklebacks. This finding aligns with the key ideas of ethology, which emphasizes the role of innate behaviors in shaping an organism's interactions with their environment. The preference for larger males also suggests a potential adaptive advantage in selecting mates that are more genetically fit and capable of producing stronger offspring.

Question 6

According to ethological theory, behaviors are inhibited by:

Accepted Answer

Innate releasing mechanisms are internal processes in animals that help to inhibit or trigger specific behaviors in response to certain stimuli. These mechanisms are a key concept in ethological theory, which studies animal behavior in the context of evolution and natural environments. Fixed action patterns and appetitive action patterns are types of behaviors, not mechanisms that inhibit behaviors. Learned releasing mechanisms are not a standard term within ethological theory.

Question 7

The branch of biology that concerns itself with the study of the evolution, development and function of behavior of animals and humans in their natural habitats is called:

Accepted Answer

Ethology is the branch of biology that studies animal behavior in their natural habitats. It involves understanding the evolutionary and physiological bases of different behaviors and how they help organisms survive and reproduce. Anthropology and ethnography focus on the study of human cultures and societies, while psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes in humans.

Question 8

Low intensity, incomplete responses indicating that energy is beginning to accumulate in an instinctive behavior system is typical of which type of behavior?

Accepted Answer

Low intensity, incomplete responses indicating that energy is beginning to accumulate in an instinctive behavior system is typical of intention movements, which are the initial stages of a complex motor pattern. Fixed action patterns and prepared behaviors are complete, highly stereotyped motor patterns, while appetitive behaviors are actions directed towards obtaining a reward.

Question 9

In Tinbergen's study of mating in stickleback fish, the female triggers the male courtship ritual. She would be called the:

Accepted Answer

In Tinbergen's study, the female stickleback fish triggers the male courtship ritual through a specific stimulus or signal which makes her a social releaser. The other options are not applicable to the situation described in the question.

Question 10

According to Craig (1918), _____ is to well-coordinated, fixed patterns of responding as _____ is to restless, searching, adaptive behavior.

Accepted Answer

The terms "well-coordinated, fixed patterns of responding" and "restless, searching, adaptive behavior" refer to consummatory and appetitive behaviors, respectively. This is in line with Craig's original definitions of these terms.

Question 11

According to the text, the main difference between taxes and fixed action patterns (FAPs) is:

Accepted Answer

Taxes are responsive behaviors to stimuli (e.g., moving towards or away from a light source), which can vary depending on the environment or context, making them responsive to change. Fixed Action Patterns (FAPs), on the other hand, are innate, unlearned behaviors that are triggered by specific stimuli and are carried out to completion once started, showing little to no variation in response to changes in the environment, thus making them unresponsive to change.

Question 12

The response that a key stimulus releases is called the:

Accepted Answer

A key stimulus triggers a fixed sequence of actions that is innate to a particular species, known as a fixed action pattern. This response is specific to the stimulus and often completed once it has started, regardless of changes in the environment. Choices B, C, and D are not commonly used terminology in the field of animal behavior.

Question 13

According to Eibl-Eibesfeldt (1972), the "eyebrow flick," or brief lifting of the eyebrows in humans, signals:

Accepted Answer

According to Eibl-Eibesfeldt (1972), the "eyebrow flick" is a universal signal of recognition and acknowledgment, indicating that one person has noticed another person's presence and is either familiar with them or has just become aware of them. It is not typically associated with aggression or courtship.

Question 14

The anthropomorphic method of analysis used by McDougall:

Accepted Answer

The anthropomorphic method of analysis used by McDougall stresses the continuity between humans and animals, emphasizing similarities between human and animal behavior.

Question 15

Environmental stimuli which act as keys to allow behavior to occur are called:

Accepted Answer

Sign stimuli are environmental cues that trigger specific behaviors in animals. They are also known as releasers or trigger features. Innate releasing mechanisms (A) and fixed action patterns (C) refer to the internal mechanisms and patterns of behavior, respectively, that are activated by sign stimuli. Action specific energy (D) is not a commonly used term in ethology.

Question 16

According to William McDougall, which of the following is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

According to William McDougall, instincts can be changed or modified through experience and learning, so option D is not true. Options A, B, and C are true according to McDougall's theory.

Question 17

An example of a _____ stimulus is when a bird prefers an egg that is larger than its normal- size egg.

Accepted Answer

A supernormal stimulus is an exaggerated version of a naturally occurring stimulus that elicits a stronger response than the normal stimulus. In this case, the larger egg is a supernormal stimulus for the bird, as it is larger than the normal egg and thus elicits a stronger preference or response.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a valid criticism of early instinct theories?

Accepted Answer

Early instinct theories were criticized for their arbitrary lists of instincts, lack of consensus on the number of instincts, and oversimplification of behavior as merely responses to stimuli. However, the idea that behavior may come from genetic programs aligns with the concept of instincts, thus not a valid criticism of these theories.

Question 19

Among the problems with the early instinct theories was the idea of the nominal fallacy, which means that:

Accepted Answer

The nominal fallacy means that simply labeling or naming something does not explain it. This was a problem for early instinct theories, which attempted to explain behavior by labeling it as an instinct without fully understanding the underlying mechanisms and causes.

Question 20

Which of the following was NOT a component of instincts, according to William McDougall?

Accepted Answer

William McDougall's theory of instincts included cognition (mental processes), emotion, and conation (urge to act), but did not include learning as a component of instincts.

Quiz 2: Genetic Contributions to Motivated Behavior

A genetically programmed bit of behavior that occurs when circumstances are appropriate and that require no learning is called:

Which of the following did William James NOT believe about instincts? Instincts were:

A list of all behaviors observed in a species is called:

Which of the following is NOT a property of a fixed action pattern? The fixed action pattern is:

Rowland's (1989) finding that female sticklebacks preferred dummy males who were larger than normal male sticklebacks fits ethological theory because it shows how:

According to ethological theory, behaviors are inhibited by:

The branch of biology that concerns itself with the study of the evolution, development and function of behavior of animals and humans in their natural habitats is called:

Low intensity, incomplete responses indicating that energy is beginning to accumulate in an instinctive behavior system is typical of which type of behavior?

In Tinbergen's study of mating in stickleback fish, the female triggers the male courtship ritual. She would be called the:

According to Craig (1918) , _ is to well-coordinated, fixed patterns of responding as _ is to restless, searching, adaptive behavior.

According to the text, the main difference between taxes and fixed action patterns (FAPs) is:

The response that a key stimulus releases is called the:

According to Eibl-Eibesfeldt (1972) , the "eyebrow flick," or brief lifting of the eyebrows in humans, signals:

The anthropomorphic method of analysis used by McDougall:

Environmental stimuli which act as keys to allow behavior to occur are called:

According to William McDougall, which of the following is NOT true?

An example of a _____ stimulus is when a bird prefers an egg that is larger than its normal- size egg.

Which of the following is NOT a valid criticism of early instinct theories?

Among the problems with the early instinct theories was the idea of the nominal fallacy, which means that:

Which of the following was NOT a component of instincts, according to William McDougall?

Quiz 2: Genetic Contributions to Motivated Behavior

A genetically programmed bit of behavior that occurs when circumstances are appropriate and that require no learning is called:

Which of the following did William James NOT believe about instincts? Instincts were:

A list of all behaviors observed in a species is called:

Which of the following is NOT a property of a fixed action pattern? The fixed action pattern is:

Rowland's (1989) finding that female sticklebacks preferred dummy males who were larger than normal male sticklebacks fits ethological theory because it shows how:

According to ethological theory, behaviors are inhibited by:

The branch of biology that concerns itself with the study of the evolution, development and function of behavior of animals and humans in their natural habitats is called:

Low intensity, incomplete responses indicating that energy is beginning to accumulate in an instinctive behavior system is typical of which type of behavior?

In Tinbergen's study of mating in stickleback fish, the female triggers the male courtship ritual. She would be called the:

According to Craig (1918) , _____ is to well-coordinated, fixed patterns of responding as _____ is to restless, searching, adaptive behavior.

According to the text, the main difference between taxes and fixed action patterns (FAPs) is:

The response that a key stimulus releases is called the:

According to Eibl-Eibesfeldt (1972) , the "eyebrow flick," or brief lifting of the eyebrows in humans, signals:

The anthropomorphic method of analysis used by McDougall:

Environmental stimuli which act as keys to allow behavior to occur are called:

According to William McDougall, which of the following is NOT true?

An example of a _____ stimulus is when a bird prefers an egg that is larger than its normal- size egg.

Which of the following is NOT a valid criticism of early instinct theories?

Among the problems with the early instinct theories was the idea of the nominal fallacy, which means that:

Which of the following was NOT a component of instincts, according to William McDougall?

According to Craig (1918) , _ is to well-coordinated, fixed patterns of responding as _ is to restless, searching, adaptive behavior.