psych
PSYCHOLOGY 372 ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
Dr. Francine Dolins Lecture 1
Goals of this course • Syllabus • Course Objectives • Examine the current debates within the subject of animal
behavior; • Describe and investigate human-animal interactions and
endangered species conservation issues; • Review current thinking about theory and concepts; • Think critically about methodology in studying animal
behavior; • Learn how to communicate and write clearly about
animal behavior in succinct scientific language; • And explore differences and similarities between humans
and non-human animals.
Textbooks: Required
• Dugatkin, L.A. (2013). Principles of Animal Behavior, 3rd Edition. W.W. Norton Press.
• Holldobler, B. & Wilson, E.O. (2010). The Leafcutter Ants: Civilization by Instinct. W.W. Norton Press.
• Martin, P. & Bateson, P. (2007) Measuring Behaviour: An Introductory Guide. Cambridge University Press.
• Additional required readings will be posted on C-Tools as well as links to short film clips and articles available online.
Why study animals in Psychology?
• Because… – they are social
– they behave unexpectedly
– they are like us
– they live in ways we can only imagine
– they are so strange!
meerkats
+
+
Left: Atlantic Wolfish; Right: Red Uakari monkey
What is Psychology?
Philosophy* + Biology*
Aristotle Plato Kuhn
James Pavlov
Wundt
*Biology: anatomy, physiology, evolution, ecology, behavior, emotions, internal
states…
*Philosophy: a way of thinking, questioning, investigating and interpreting evidence
Darwin Descartes
Structuralists and Functionalists
• Structuralists and Functionalists: – Structuralists - (Wundt & Titchener) the study of the
elements of consciousness through the method of introspection
– Functionalists - (James and Darwin) the study of the purpose/function of consciousness through systematic, experimental methods
The study of animal behavior derives from Functionalism.
Early Structuralists
First psychology laboratory, Leipzig, Germany, 1879
Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)
Titchener (1867-1927)
Early Functionalists
William James (1842-1910)
Charles Darwin (1809-1882) The Origin of Species (1859) and
more!
20th Century Psychologists: Behaviorism
Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)
John Watson (1878-1968)
B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)
Behaviorism and Ethology • Early studies in Animal Behavior were divided into
two camps:
• Behaviorism (Pavlov; Watson; Skinner): the study of learned behaviors that can be controlled and predicted by stimuli in the environment; only observable events can be studied, there are no internal mental processes.
• Ethology (Lorenz; Tinbergen; von Frisch): the study of how animals learn to adapt to their natural environment and solve problems; studied in the field or under naturalistic circumstances in the lab. Also ‘Cognitive Ethology’ more recently…
We will draw knowledge from both areas of study.
Measuring Behavior in Psychology
• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior (what we do) and mental processes (what we think/feel).
• Psychology is the science that addresses questions about all animals including humans.
Problem: How to measure behavior? How to define behavior?
“If you do nothing, how do you know when you are done?”
Four Major Research Perspectives in Psychology
Biological
Cognitive
Behavioral
Socio- cultural
Where does the study of animal behavior fit in?
Studying Behavior in Psychology
• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior (what we do) and mental processes (what we think/feel).
• Psychology is the science that addresses questions about all animals including humans.
Question
Are humans, animals?
How different are humans from other species?
Questions we will examine…
What is the difference between human’s and other animals’ behavior? What are the similarities? Where do these differences and similarities come from?
Genes Environment
Nature … Nurture
Genotype…Phenotype Nature … Nurture
Genotype… Phenotype
Common Ancestor
Common Ancestor
EPIGENETICS
EPIGENETICS
EPIGENETICS
Questions we will examine…
How much is learned in behavior and how much is instinctive? How can we tell the difference?
Konrad Lorenz being followed by the goslings
who have imprinted on
him.
Questions we will examine…
Why do some species only live in specific habitats?
Questions we will examine…
How do animals communicate? Do nonhuman animals possess and use language just as humans do?
Questions we will examine…
How do animals choose mates? Who does the choosing? Based on what characteristics?
Questions we will examine…
Do nonhuman animals make tools? Do they use tools?
Do nonhuman and human animals both possess consciousness and self-awareness?
Questions we will examine…
Ichabod, the baby Aye-Aye, born at Duke Primate Center
Questions we will examine… Why are some animals close to ex1nc1on?
Discussion and Documentary Consider aspects of human-animal interactions • Discussion Question I: What are the differences between human animals and non-human animals?
• Discussion Question II: Are interactions between humans and non-human animals important? If so, for whom are they important?
• Discussion Question III: What are the ethics of keeping animals in captivity; are zoos ‘arks’ for conservation?
• Film #1: Nenette
Any questions about the syllabus? Any questions from the first lecture & discussion?
Any other questions?