Question

Choose any instinctive behavior you wish and describe that behavior using terms from classic ethology: fixed action pattern, sign stimuli and releasers, innate releasing mechanisms, and action specific energy

Answer 1

Example: when a bird builds a nest, it knows how exactly it has to build the nest without prior learning. The materials it chosses to the way it weaves the nest will be specific to that species. It is done by instinct behaviour.

The scientific and objective study of animal behaviour under natural conditons is called ethology. CWChen the bird makes its nest, it is identical to the nest of its species.

fixed action patterns or modal action plan denotes instinctive behavioral sequence that is relatively invariant within a species.

This fixed action pattern are produced by neural network known as the innate releasing mechanism in response to an external sensory stimulus known as sign stimulus or releaser.

When an enemy gets near the nest which the bird is building or to the nest when its hatchlings are there, it chases the enemy .. This is an innate releasing mechanism. The fixed action pattern is activated by innate releasing mechanism.

Action specific energy is internal force that accumulates within the organism and provides the motivation for the behaviour.