Ethology is the science of all kinds of innate behavior of animals and humans

Did you know that you are studying ethology? After reading this article, you will find out the answer to this question. In addition, we will describe the basic concepts and ideas that are being considered in the framework of this science. "Ethology" is a word that was used in the second half of the 18th - early 19th century. However, it was then used only in relation to man to indicate the character, as well as his interpretation, based on the study of gestures.

Classical Ethology

In the beginning of the 20th century, ethology is already an independent scientific discipline. First she studied stereotyped movements and various instincts of animals - was engaged in their definition and carrying out of the comparative analysis.

Ethology is a science, the emergence of which is connected with the works of Ch. O. Whitman, W. Craig, O. Heinrot. Classical science has reached the pinnacle of development in the writings of N. Tinbergen, K. Lorenz, K. von Frisch. These scientists in their works laid the foundations of ethology. The main emphasis in research was made on the analysis of the phenomenon of motivation. K. Lorenz proposed a hydraulic model of behavior, which explained the effect of, it would seem, all of its regulators. The scientist noted that with increasing motivation (for example, if the animal is deprived of food), a specific energy is accumulated, referring only to this type of behavior. She after a while must certainly find a way out. Because of this, during the food deprivation the animal demonstrates the motor activity aimed at finding food. After the completion of a certain behavioral act (in our case - saturation), a rest phase sets in. This behavior (for example, food) during this period can no longer be detected.

Rethinking Concepts

Ethology is a science in which, over time, a rethinking of concepts has occurred. Thanks to the accumulated knowledge, many of them could no longer satisfy scientists. It became obvious that the concepts of activation and motivation underlying motivation analysis did not facilitate behavioral research, but rather complicated them. There were doubts that the models explaining the accumulation of energy motivation are useful.

Scientists belonging to the classical school, focused on the study of congenital forms of behavior, genetically conditioned. However, despite this, it should be noted that the object of their research was a holistic system of behavior. It includes not only innate elements, but also acquired ones.

Modern ethology

Modern ethology is the science of the behavior of animals and man, which entered a new phase of his research. It closely interacts with zoopsychology and comparative psychology. Today we can talk about the emergence of a kind of synthetic science. Behavior in it is studied extensively. Ethology is the science of its evolution, its functional and adaptive significance. In addition, research is being carried out on the mechanisms for monitoring manifestations of behavior, etc.

The main task of modern ethology

Ethologists proceed from the fact that how animals and humans behave in natural habitats is closely related to the morphology of the object, mainly with the structure of the nervous system. Scientists are clearly moving away from traditional studies of the "evolution of instincts." The main task is not to determine what form of behavior and how much is determined by the influence of the external environment or genotype. In 1977, LV Krushinsky wrote that the question of acquired or innate forms of behavior is meaningless. We can only understand the level of its development, the "height of the psyche", as well as the ability for one or another action in representatives of different taxa. In addition, we can determine the degree of variability of these actions, since it is hardly hereditary.

Motivating behavior

Ethology has made an important contribution to the development of social disciplines. This is due to the fact that there are proven channels for the development of human and animal behavior . It is not determined genetically, according to modern ideas of scientists. However, this does not mean that behavior is infinitely malleable to the impact of the environment. There is also a behavioral predisposition in humans and animals. It is connected with the fact that the possibilities of learning individuals have their limits. The nature of the sensorimotor device imposes its limitations on individuals. In addition, the properties of the nervous system and the ability to perceive information are not unlimited. Many ethologists today refuse from the earlier ideas about motivation. They believe that this concept refers to phenomena whose nature is still poorly understood.

Behavior and Physiology

At different levels, ethologists explain the nature of behavior: ethological, psychological, and physiological. The mechanisms of the last level include sensory-perceptive, humoral and nerve. However, the physiological approach to behavior faces serious difficulties. This is due to the fact that behavior and related physiological mechanisms are constantly mutually affecting each other. Physiology, on the one hand, controls behavior. However, if you look at the other side, everything happens just the opposite. After all, behavior can regulate physiological processes. It is known, for example, about the influence of the endocrine system on manifestations of aggression. In addition, we know that under the influence of behavior, the level of hormones in the blood of animals can vary. The close interdependence between them suggests that physiology, rather, is an internal mechanism for the realization of behavior than its driving force and cause.

Behavior and Psychology

Ya. Badridze and N. Ovsianikov suggest to look for the key to understanding the processes that are of interest to ethologists at the psychological level. These authors believe that a special concept should be used to understand the psychological mechanisms of behavior. It's about psychological comfort. In the model of these scientists it is presented as a driving system of behavior. This approach assumes consideration of any behavioral reaction as two psychological conditions - discomfort and comfort. At the same time, the latter is an equilibrium psychological state, observed in the absence of contradictions between current activity, need, and environmental factors. A comfortable, balanced state is emotionally positive. Discomfort is observed when one of the three factors listed above, comes into conflict with the rest. These changes lead to negative emotions.

Badridze and Ovsyanikov model

The model of J. Badridze and N. Ovsyanikov suggests that animals in their behavior tend to maintain a state of psychological comfort. For this, they try to make sure that all parameters are in accordance with each other. This hypothesis has the following positive moment: it can be applied universally in relation to the analysis of the behavior of organisms at the individual level. In addition, this approach presents an attempt to find mechanisms that work within the system of behavior. And the third point - the recognition that animals are able to predict the course of events in the physical and social environment, as well as adjust their own actions in accordance with possible changes.

This reflects the views of modern ethology about the role of the conscious and unconscious in the behavior of animals. However, there are also negative aspects. This ambiguity of this approach, as well as the lack of methods for measuring internal balance, emotional state. In addition, it is unclear how the ethology of animal behavior can assess their needs.

Ethological approach to behavior

In the ethological approach developed by R. Hynd, the emphasis is on analyzing the internal mechanisms of behavior at the group and individual levels. It is emphasized that its laws at the social level are not reducible to the sum of manifestations at a lower level.

Relationship and interaction between individuals

The ethology of humans and animals has recently paid great attention not to the analysis of the behavior of individuals, but to the study of relationships and interactions between them. It is assumed that each individual interacting with others has his own ideas about the possible behavior of partners corresponding to this situation. Individuals receive the necessary representations on the basis of past experience of communication with representatives of their species. If two unfamiliar individuals come into contact with a hostile character, their behavior is limited mainly to a series of demonstrations. This communication is often enough for one of them to recognize himself defeated.

This fact he demonstrates subordination. This happens in a peaceful way because individuals are able to determine the opponent's capabilities and strength by external signs (health and fatness, size, temperament, manner of holding, age, etc.). If individuals have already interacted many times with each other, a special relationship appears between them, which are carried out against the backdrop of social contacts. Agree, this science is very entertaining. Ethology today is not in vain acquiring great popularity. Probably, there is no such person who would not be interested in the explanation of behavior.

Relationship Networks

At the present stage, a list of what ethology is studying is supplemented by new areas of research. She tries to find out a number of questions, the answer to which can not be given, based on the traditional theories of instinct and motivation. First of all, it is necessary to find out why social systems are always structured in humans and animals, and why these structures are organized almost always on a hierarchical basis.

In animals, the network of relationships is described in terms of sexual, kinship ties, individual selectivity, systems of domination. In humans, they are much more diverse. Networks can overlap (in particular, in groups of primates, reproductive, kinship and rank relations), but they can also exist separately (for example, the network of relations between adolescents in school and their peers and in the family). Entering into relationships, groups of individuals form a social structure. It is important to note that there is a constant mutual influence between different levels of social complexity.

We answered the question about what ethology is. The definition of areas of her research was done both in the historical plan and in terms of different approaches. Of course, we described only the main issues of interest to scientists in this direction. Both applied ethology and theory are actively developing today, so in the future, new areas of research are likely to emerge.