Fixed Action Patterns (FAPs) are instinctive, invariant behaviors triggered by specific stimuli in animals. These innate responses, studied by ethologists like Konrad Lorenz, are crucial for understanding animal behavior. FAPs are encoded in neural circuitry, exhibited by all species members, and are unmodifiable by learning. They serve as a window into the genetic and evolutionary aspects of behavior, showing adaptability to environmental demands and survival strategies.
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FAPs are sequences of instinctive behaviors that are invariant and produced by animals in response to specific triggering stimuli
Neural Circuitry
FAPs are encoded in the neural circuitry of an organism and are exhibited by all individuals within a species
Innate Releasing Mechanism (IRM)
An IRM, which is a specialized neural network, activates FAPs, leading to a predictable and stereotyped sequence of actions
The study of FAPs is a cornerstone of ethology, a branch of biology that focuses on animal behavior
Ethologists have identified several categories of FAPs, including stereotyped, complex, universal, triggered, released, and unmodifiable by learning
Observable Across Various Species
FAPs are observable across various species, providing clear examples of innate behavior
Examples in Humans
In humans, behaviors such as the reflexive act of yawning when others yawn may be considered a form of FAP
Fixed action patterns are believed to have a genetic basis, as evidenced by the ability to selectively breed for certain behaviors in domestic animals
These breed-specific behaviors suggest that FAPs can be influenced by genetic selection and may evolve over generations to adapt to specific environmental demands or human needs
The work of ethologists such as Konrad Lorenz and Niko Tinbergen has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of fixed action patterns
Tinbergen's Studies on Stickleback Fish
Tinbergen's studies on the stickleback fish revealed the automatic and species-specific nature of FAPs
Lorenz's Observations of Greylag Geese
Lorenz's observations of greylag geese showed the rigid and unalterable nature of FAPs
While FAPs are generally adaptive, environmental and learning factors can influence an animal's behavior, suggesting that not all behaviors are fixed
The application of FAP theory to human behavior is fraught with difficulties due to the complexity of human societies and cognitive processes
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Characteristics of FAPs
Invariant, stereotyped, completed once initiated, species-specific.
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Role of IRM in FAPs
Activates FAPs via specialized neural network in response to stimuli.
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Ethology and FAPs
Study of animal behavior; FAPs research by Konrad Lorenz, foundational to ethology.
