Animal Behavior & Psychology Flashcards
7 cards from real CPA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Animal Behavior & Psychology flashcards as text
What is the main distinction between 'learning' and 'instinct' in animal behavior?
Answer: Learning is modified by experience while instinct is genetically programmed
Instinctive behaviors are genetically encoded and occur without prior experience, while learning involves behavioral changes resulting from experience.
In observational learning, animals acquire new behaviors primarily by:
Answer: Watching and imitating others
Observational learning (social learning) occurs when an animal watches another perform a behavior and then replicates it.
A foraging animal that selects food patches to maximize energy intake while minimizing time spent searching is following:
Answer: Optimal foraging theory
Optimal foraging theory predicts that animals forage in ways that maximize net energy gain relative to time and effort expended.
What term describes the phenomenon where animals perform a behavior better or faster when in the presence of others?
Answer: Social facilitation
Social facilitation is the enhancement of an organism's performance on tasks in the presence of others.
Which type of animal communication uses chemical signals released into the environment to affect the behavior of others of the same species?
Answer: Pheromones
Pheromones are chemical signals that transmit information between members of the same species, influencing behaviors like mating and alarm responses.
The concept of 'critical period' in animal development refers to:
Answer: A sensitive developmental window during which specific learning must occur
A critical period is a specific developmental window during which an animal is particularly sensitive to certain environmental stimuli necessary for normal development.
Which motivational model suggests that animals have internal drives that build up over time until a releasing stimulus triggers the behavior?
Answer: Hydraulic model
Lorenz's hydraulic model proposed that motivational energy accumulates like water in a reservoir until a releasing stimulus triggers the behavior.