When a mother nurses her child for the first time, the sucking of the infant stimulates the release of milk. Within a few weeks of birth, the cry of the infant stimulates the same response. Which of these is a fixed behavior?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Releasing milk in response to sucking is a fixed behavior that is instinctive in lactating mothers. It is not a learned response, and it is a reflexive action. On the other hand, the release of milk in response to crying is not a fixed behavior because the cry of the infant can also signal other needs, such as a need for a diaper change or for comfort, and it is not an automatic reflex.

When a Mother Nurses Her Child for the First Time