Whether or not a behavior is innate can be difficult to establish because
A) all members of a species may engage in the behavior because of learning.
B) innate behaviors are not modifiable.
C) only fixed action patterns are innate.
D) all behaviors are susceptible to reinforcement and punishment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Innate behaviors are those that are hardwired into an organism and can be performed without prior experience or learning. However, distinguishing between innate and learned behaviors can be challenging because all members of a species might engage in a behavior not because it is innate, but because they have learned it from their environment or others. Choices B, C, and D do not accurately reflect the complexities in distinguishing innate behaviors, as innate behaviors can sometimes be modifiable to a degree, not all innate behaviors are fixed action patterns, and the susceptibility of behaviors to reinforcement and punishment does not preclude them from being innate.

Whether or Not a Behavior Is Innate Can Be Difficult