Behaviorism versus ethology PDF

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different view points and explanations on behaviorism and ethology...

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Behaviorism versus ethology Animal behavior without minds Ethology versus Behaviorism versus “common sense” ● Common sense dominates most thinking about animals-”dogs like bones”-mostly relies on anthropomorphic ideas ● Ethology emphasizes biology and the four “F’s” of biology and how they drive the evolution of natural/innate behavior (nature), and behavior observed semi-natural situations ● Behaviorism emphasizes psychological principles that predict how and individual will act after learning how things worked in control settings; rules that determine how individual experiences shape behavior (nurture),

Can dogs tell time? ● BBC video- yes, but their time may be smelling based, rather than conceptually based as it is in humans ● Frans de Waal- maybe, if you can find clear examples showing that they think/plan ahead ● skeptic/behaviorist-the question is anthropomorphic and the concept of “telling time” is so vague as to be outside the domain of science

“The difference between behaviorism and ethology has always been one of humancontrolled versus natural behavior”-de Waal The limits of ethology ● Video notes ○ Constant echoing signs, it was silent before humans came, communicating interest when they’re usually quiet ○ Eat in groups ○ screaming over who will get the food from the human ○ Learning behaviors, passing through generations, how to pick wheat from sand

Pt II. ● Behaviorism emphasizes rules that determine how individual experiences shape behavior ○ Law of effect ● Ball fetching by puppies, cats, and rabbits ● “Operant conditioning reinforces what is already there” ● “Behaviorism ignores ecology ● Hunger games-control and domination

Operant conditioning ● Operant conditioning video: ○ Person bent down dog jumped over; person point leg in certain direction...