1. Introduction to Animal Behavior
Ethology vs. Animal Behavior

2. Ethology What is Ethology?
Ethology: The biological study of animal behavior.
Must use the scientific method

3. Animal Behavior What is Animal Behavior?
Animal Behavior: All observable or otherwise measurable muscular or secretory responses (or lack thereof) in response to changes in an animals internal or external environment.
AKA WHAT ANIMALS DO

4. Study Behavior Why study behavior?
Animals = good models for understanding ourselves
Behavior, neurobiology
Animal conservation, endangered species
Practical: farm animals, pest species control, disease prevention, pets
Management of animals in captivity
Curiosity!

5. Introduction to Animal Behavior
Are we all amateur behaviorists?

12. Quote from pet counselor in Ohio:
“It’s wonderful — anyone can be a behaviorist — no degree or formal training is necessary. I just do it.”

13. The problem with amateur behaviorists…
Perceptual bias
Anthropomorphism

14. Bias & Behavior Humans often see what we expect to see
Aristotle and teeth
See pattern where no pattern exists
Human anthropomorphize
Ascribe human characteristics to things not human
Attribute conscious thought to animals too quickly
e.g. Wilhelm Von-Osten and “Clever Hans”

15. Why do we make this mistake?
Our minds contain a model of the universe. Our experience (e.g., vision) is allowed to update it, but only in certain ways.
We can’t avoid it — we are born with a model already in place!

16. What makes a professional behaviorist?
Proper use of the scientific method

17. Scientific Method (review)
1. Observations
2. Questions
3. Hypotheses
4. Tests (experiments)
5. Interpretation
Hypothesis supported or refuted?
Alternative hypotheses?

18. The problem with professional behaviorists…
Perceptual bias still possible
The Mask of Theory and the Face of Nature
“Rarely does it become possible for the scientist to step back, examine the social preconditions that have led to the construction of the mask of theory, and ask: Why have I interpreted the natural world the way I have? What elements of my culture made one interpretation obvious and believable, but not another?”

19. Jane Goodall True Animal Behaviorist
Known for: work with chimpanzees at Gombe Stream Reserve