PSYC 2230 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Fixed Action Pattern, B. F. Skinner, Mating Call

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2230
• Professor: Pauline Charlton

Document Summary

Overview of instinct, fixed action pattern, imprinting, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, habituation, observational learning and insight in animals. Fixed action patterns: series of actions until a task is completed ie. goose pulling in their eggs to the nest. Trial and error: bf skinner with operant condition ie. training animals. Habituation: same task over and over and eventually desensitizing to it. Male birds will look for female mating call. Monkeys during heat will have colouration of their sex organs. For example, coloration, which indicate sexual readiness. Male is the key, female is the stimulating factor to preform mating dance. Dependent on the environment ie. a mouse will learn a new maze to get to food. Consummatory behavior: fixed patterns of responding to specific stimuli. Action specific energy behavior has its own source of energy. Innate releasing mechanism - like a lock that can be opened by a proper key. Key stimuli the key that allow the behavior to occur.