sociobiology - Answers Coined by Edward Osborne Wilson
the systematic study of how biology affects human social behavior
Explores why specific behaviors or other phenotypes came to be
Evolution - Answers Coined by Charles Darwin: Natural selection, survival of the fittest
a change in the genetic composition of a population over time
It unites ethology, population biology, ecology, anthropology, game theory, and genetics
aggression - Answers aggression serves both to increase territory and to eliminate competitors. Defeated
animals can emigrate, disperse, or remain in the social group as subordinates
Altruism - Answers behavior that reduces the personal reproductive success of the initiator while
increasing that of the recipient
working for others even if it means self sacrifice
Within the group the altruists are at a severe disadvantage but they help the group as a whole succeed
(example bees serving the queen)
twin studies on intelligence - Answers twin studies suggest that intelligence is based 2/3 genes and 1/3
environment
multiple twin studies suggest high rates of similarities in neuropsych testing despite being raised
seperately
, ethology - Answers study of animal behavior
Konrad Lorenz - Answers ethology (animal behavior); studied imprinting and critical periods in geese
"Critical Period" the time shortly after birth when imprinting occurs
consumatory response theory - Answers Phase of behavior whereby the energy driving the appetitive
phase is released. Involves the perception of sign stimuli, the activation of the innate releasing
mechanism (IRM), and the performance of the fixed action pattern (FAP)
fixed action pattern - Answers a sequence of unlearned or genetically determined acts directly linked to
a simple stimulus
species specific stereotyped movements
innate release mechanism - Answers sensory mechanism selectively responsive to specific external
stimuli and responsible for triggering the stereotyped motor response
Ritualization - Answers process of a behavior pattern being incorporated through evolution into a
primary signaling function, frequently with exaggeration and embellishment of some of the movements.
displacement activity - Answers an apparently irrelevant activity sometimes displayed by animals when
confronted by conflict or thwarted from attaining a goal
for instance in fight or flight situations sometimes animals do neither and display behavior that seems
irrelevant to the situation
Humans may do this when under stress as well
Karl von Frisch - Answers scientist known for his extensive studies of honeybee communications and the
famous bee waggle dance