PSY 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Evolutionary Programming, Human Behavior, Drive Theory

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 1101
• Professor: Mark Dallas

Document Summary

4 complementary theories of motivation (1) instinct and evolutionary theories. Instinct a complex behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species and is unlearned. Not just a reflex reaction, an instinct can be very complex, e. g. bird nests, spider webs, ant rafts, (cid:271)ut is u(cid:374)lea(cid:396)(cid:374)ed. Instinct must: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) Be triggered by some event in the environment. Govern behavior for which the organism needs no training. Based on darwinian theory: (remember theory of evolution) Theory of evolution: (1) more offspring are produced than can possibly survive (2) traits vary among individuals, leading to different rates of survival and reproduction for offspring (3) trait difference it heritable. The more complex the nervous system, the more adaptable the organism. Both humans and weaver birds satisfy their need for shelter in ways that reflect their inherited capacities. Human behavior is flexible; we can learn whatever skills we need to build a house.