| Adaptation |
Characteristic of an organism that has survival value or increases reproductive potential. |
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| Behaviourism |
Approach to psychology focusing on the study of observable behaviour. |
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| Contagion |
Triggering of a pre-existing behaviour pattern in one animal by another. |
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| Evolutionarily stable strategy |
A strategy that cannot be bettered if it is used by most members of the population. |
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| Group selection |
Term used by Wynee-Edwards to explain the evolutaion of behaviour for the good of the group. |
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| Imitation |
Learning of a novel behaviour through the observation of the modelling of that behaviour in another animal. |
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| Inclusive fitness |
The measure of the abiltiy of an individual to pass genes on to the next generation. |
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| Insight learning |
The ability to solve a problem or perform an appropriate behaviour at the first attempt. |
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| Kin selection |
Term used by Hamilton to explain the evolution of behaviour for the good of genetic relatives. |
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| Mimicry |
The copying of an unrewarding behaviour observed in another animal. |
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| Natural selection |
Term used by Darwin to explain the mechanism by which organisms are selected by environmental factors for survival and reproduction. |
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| Operant |
The behaviour performed by an animal in operant conditioning which results in a consequence. |
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| Palaeontology |
The study of past geological periods and fossils. |
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| Population |
A group of organisms of the same species living in the same habitat. |
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| Punishment |
Weakens behaviours in operant conditioning. |
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| Reciprocal altruism |
Stable strategy of 'tit-for-tat' cooperation involving related or unrelated individuals. |
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| Reinforcement |
Strengthens behaviours in operant conditioning. |
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| Schedules of reinforcement |
Patterns of reinforcement used in operant conditioning involving different frequencies and timings of reinforcing events. |
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| Self-recognition |
The ability to recognise oneself in a reflection. |
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| Sexual selection |
Selection for traits that increase mating success. |
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| Shaping |
Learning of a new behaviour by the reinforcement of successive approximations to the desired behaviour. |
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| Social facilitation |
The ability to perform a task better in the presence of conspecifics. |
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| Stimulus enhancement |
Increased attractiveness of an object following conspecific's interest in that object. |
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| Theory of mind |
The ability to attribute mental states to the self and others. |
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| Tutoring |
The investment of time and energy into the teaching of a behaviour to a conspecific. |