Contents
Introduction Nikolaas Tinbergen: Instinct theory
Nikolaas Tinbergen: Instinct theory emphasized the importance of both instinctive and learned behaviour to survival and used animal behaviour as a basis for speculations about the nature of human violence and aggression.
This species of fish is very territorial and aggressive. In the mating season they develop a red spot on their underside. Tinbergen observed that at this time male sticklebacks will attack another male stickleback that enters their territory.
Nikolaas Tinbergen’s research on instinct holds great significance in biological psychology, as it laid essential groundwork for understanding innate behaviors and their biological foundations. His contributions, particularly in ethology, have helped shape the understanding of how certain behaviors are naturally programmed into organisms, driven by evolutionary factors.
Instinct and Fixed Action Patterns (FAPs):
Tinbergen showed that many animal behaviors, particularly instinctual ones, follow predictable and preprogrammed patterns called Fixed Action Patterns (FAPs). These behaviors are triggered by specific stimuli, known as releasers or sign stimuli, and unfold in a consistent manner once initiated. In biological psychology, these concepts help explain the biological basis of behaviors such as survival instincts and reproductive activities.
Four Questions of Ethology:
Tinbergen’s famous Four Questions provide a comprehensive approach to studying behavior:
- Causation: What are the immediate causes of the behavior?
- Development: How does the behavior develop over the individual’s life?
- Evolution: How did the behavior evolve over time?
- Function: What purpose does the behavior serve in survival and reproduction?
These questions are central to understanding human behavior from a biological and evolutionary standpoint, as they encourage exploration of both the immediate and longterm influences on behavior.
Application to Human Behavior:
Though Tinbergen focused on animal behavior, his ideas have significant relevance to human psychology. The concept of innate behaviors, such as fear responses, aggression, and attachment, can be extended to humans. In biological psychology, this highlights how certain behaviors may be evolutionary adaptations designed to enhance survival.
Integration of Biology and Psychology:
Tinbergen’s work provided a bridge between biology and psychology, showing that behavior can be studied through biological mechanisms. This aligns with the goals of biological psychology, which seeks to explain how biological processes, including evolutionary adaptations, underlie mental functions and behaviors.
References
Tinbergen, N. (1951). The study of instinct. Oxford University Press.
Alcock, J. (2005). Animal behavior: An evolutionary approach (8th ed.). Sinauer Associates.
Dugatkin, L. A. (2013). Principles of animal behavior (3rd ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.
Bolhuis, J. J., & Giraldeau, L. A. (2005). The behavior of animals: Mechanisms, function, and evolution. WileyBlackwell.
McFarland, D. (2006). The Oxford companion to animal behavior. Oxford University Press
The following reenactment, at Fukui Japan, shows how the stickleback does not attack the fish without any red marks, but how it immediately attacks those with red undersides, regardless of the apparent size of the opponent: