| A | B |
|---|
| animal behavior | what an animal does when interacting with its environment |
| immediate cause | explanation of an organism's behavior based on its immediate interactions with the environment |
| ultimate cause | explanation of an organism's behavior based on its evolutionary adaptations |
| innate behavior | behavior performed correctly and in the same way by all individuals of a species, without previous experience |
| fixed action pattern (FAP) | innate behavior that occurs as an unchangeable sequence of actions |
| circadian rhythm | rhythmic pattern of behavior (in an animal) or biological cycle (in a plant) that follows an approximately 24-hour natural cycle |
| learning | a change in behavior resulting from experience |
| habituation | type of learning in which an animal stops responding to a repeated stimulus that conveys little or no important information |
| imprinting | a usually irreversible type of learning limited to a specific time period in an animal's life |
| conditioning | type of learning in which a particular stimulus or response is linked to a reward or punishment |
| insight | performing a behavior correctly or appropriately in a new situation, without previous experience |
| critical learning period | specific time period during which imprinting ocurrs |
| classical conditioning | type of learning, in which an otherwise meaningless stimulus is associated with a reward or a punishment |
| operant conditioning | trial-and-error learning: learning to associate one of its own behavioral acts with a positive or negative effect |
| exercise hypothesis | suggests that play is an adaptation that keeps the animal's muscular and cardiovascular systems in top condition |
| practice hypothesis | suggests that play is a type of learning that allows animals to practice behaviors required for survival |
| aggressive behavior | symbolic threat display or a physical struggle between individuals of the same species |
| dominance hierarchy | ranking of individuals in a group based on aggressive behavior |
| territory | area defended by an individual, usually excluding other members of the same species |
| courtship ritual | elaborate behavior of individuals of the same species before mating |
| communication | signals among animals that include sounds, odors, visual displays, and touches |
| cooperation | group of behaviors in which individuals work together in a way that benefits the group |
| long tail mating preferance theory | good health is required to produce long feathers |
