Barker's
Chapter 2 -- Biological Bases of Learning and Behavior
Learning in Evolutionary Perspective
A. Darwin's Theory
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Variation, Selection, and Retention (Heredity)
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Selective Pressures
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Fitness and Inclusive Fitness
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Natural and Sexual Selection
B. Ethology -- Focus on Species-Specific
Behavior
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Consumatory behavior (critical for survival
-- not just feeding) versus Appetitive behavior
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Reflexes (S -> R)
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Fixed Action Patterns (FAP with Sign Stimuli)
-- instincts
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The four "criteria" - Stereotyped, Hard
to disrupt, Refractory period, "Unlearned."
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Example of goose egg-rolling - separate
"sweep" and "adjusting" components.
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"Innate Releasing Mechanism" - a hypothetical
construct.
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Imprinting - An FAP with a "to-be-learned"
sign stimulusÖ
C. Comparative Psychology -- Looking for
general principles of learning
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General Process Learning Theory: Lawful,
Replicable, Flexible, General
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Focus on individual learning rather than
species-typical behavior
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Experimental work with domesticated animals
(Animal models)
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The Laboratory: Benefits and Limitations.
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Rats and Pigeons
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Representative Brains:
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Vertebrate Plan (Herrick),
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Reptilian, Old Mammalian, New Mammalian
Brains (Corticalization) (MacLean)
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Ethical use of animals.
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Law of Parsimony , Anthropomorphism and
Zoomorphism
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Finding the Common Ground between Ethology
and Comparative Psychology: Species-Specific Defense Reactions (SSDRs),
Sociobiology.