Innate vs. Learned Behaviors

Key Concepts

• Innate Behaviors (Instincts): Behaviors performed correctly the first time in response to a stimulus without being learned. Also known as instincts.
• Learned Behaviors: Behaviors acquired through experience.

Types of Innate Behaviors

Simple Innate Behaviors

1. Reflexes: Automatic responses (e.g., blinking when a spotlight is shined in your eyes).
2. Taxis: Purposeful movement towards or away from a stimulus (e.g., bugs flying towards a light).
3. Kinesis: Random movement in response to a stimulus (e.g., rats scurrying randomly in response to a light).

Complex Innate Behaviors

1. Fixed Action Patterns: Complex, innate behaviors (e.g., mating dances of birds).
2. Migration: Seasonal movement from one region to another (e.g., birds flying south for the winter).
3. Circadian Rhythms: Biological clock regulating cycles like sleep-wake (e.g., birds waking up early to sing).

Types of Learned Behaviors

Habituation

• Decrease or end of response to a stimulus after repeated exposure (e.g., a roommate not reacting to a fire alarm after getting used to it).

Classical Conditioning

• Associating one stimulus with another that produces a particular response (e.g., fear response to a fire alarm because it's associated with fire).

Operant Conditioning

• Learning in which the consequences of a behavior affect the likelihood of the behavior occurring again (e.g., not responding to fire alarms knowing there will be no consequence).

Insight Learning

• Sudden solution to a problem through mental processing (e.g., figuring out a math problem suddenly after understanding the basic operations).

Summary

• Simple Innate Behaviors: Think of a spotlight.
• Complex Innate Behaviors: Think of a bird.
• Learned Behaviors: Learn not to burn your popcorn.