Description
Book SynopsisOne of the attractive features of the great classical ethologists was their readiness to ask different kinds of questions about behavior - and to do so without muddling the answers.
Table of Contents1 The Nature and Description of Behavior Patterns.- I. Abstract.- II. Introduction.- III. Describing Behavior: Two Methods or One?.- IV. The Domains of Regularity.- A. Location in Space.- B. Orientation to the Environment.- C. Topography of the Animal.- D. Intrinsic Properties of the Animal.- E. Changes Effected in the Physical Environment.- F. A Note on Context.- V. Natural Units of Behavior.- A. The Existence of Natural Units.- B. The Role of the Describer.- C. The Level and Scope of the Unit.- VI. The Description of Behavior Patterns.- A. The Selection of Domains.- B. The Selection of Regularities and Specific Features.- C. The Objectivity of Pure Description.- VII. Conclusions.- VIII. Summary.- IX. Acknowledgments.- X. References.- 2 Individual Differences in Animal Behavior.- I. Abstract.- II. Introduction.- III. Differences in Feeding Behavior.- IV. Strategies of Behavior.- V. Communication of Identity.- VI. Model Action Patterns.- VII. Adaptiveness or Noise?.- VIII. Conclusion.- IX. Acknowledgments.- X. References.- 3 Toward a Falsifiable Theory of Evolution.- I. Abstract.- II. Introduction.- III. The Tautology of Evolutionary Biology.- IV. The Tautology in Behaviorism.- V. A Resolution of the Tautology.- VI. Some Concluding Remarks.- VII. Acknowledgments.- VIII. References.- 4 Evolutionary, Proximate, and Functional Primate Social Ecology.- I. Abstract.- II. Introduction.- III. Evolutionary Social Ecology.- IV. Proximate Social Ecology.- V. Functional Social Ecology.- VI. Interdigitation of Evolutionary, Proximate, and Functional Social Ecology.- VII. Acknowledgments.- VIII. References.- 5 Social Structure and Individual Ontogenies: Problems of Description, Mechanism, and Evolution.- I. Abstract.- II. Introduction.- III. Ontogenetic Trajectories.- IV. Homeostasis or Steady State?.- V. Evolution of Maturational Controls.- VI. Conclusion.- VII. Acknowledgments.- VIII. Appendix.- IX. References.- 6 On a Possible Relation Between Cultural Transmission and Genetical Evolution.- I. Abstract.- II. Introduction.- III. Components of Intelligence.- IV. Habit and Instinct.- V. Assimilative Selection.- VI. Evolution of Intelligence.- VII. Acknowledgments.- VIII. References.- 7 The Behavior of Organisms, as it is Linked to Genes and Populations.- I. Abstract.- II. Introduction.- III. Integrative Levels in Biology.- IV. Behavior: The Interaction of the Organism with Its Environment.- V. Integrative Levels in the Evolutionary Process.- VI. Acknowledgments.- VII. References.- 8 From Causations to Translations: What Biochemists can Contribute to the Study of Behavior.- I. Abstract.- II. On Levels of Analysis.- III. The Objects of Behavioral Study.- IV. The Inadequacy of Systems Approaches.- V. The Hazards of Reification.- VI. The Reductionist Fallacy.- VII. Springing the Trap?.- VIII. From Causes to Translations.- IX. Theory into Practice.- X. Acknowledgments.- XI. References.- 9 Behavior and the Physical World of an Animal.- I. Abstract.- II. The Parameters of Concern.- III. The Physical World Comes First.- IV. Size and the Physical World.- V. Behavior and the Flow of Fluids.- VI. Remarks in Conclusion.- VII. References.- 10 Escalated Fighting and the War of Nerves: Games Theory and Animal Combat.- I. Abstract.- II. Introduction.- III. Escalation in Contests.- IV. Games Theory and Animal Contests.- A. Some Basic Ideas.- B. A Simple Model: The War of Attrition.- C. Models with Escalation.- D. Hawks and Doves.- E. “Explanation” by Models.- F. A Benefit of Destructive Combat?.- G. The War of Nerves.- H. Is Risk Important?.- I. Contests with Small Injuries.- J. Contests as Random Walks.- V. Discussion.- VI. Acknowledgments.- VII. References.- 11 Science and the Law: A Muddled Interface.
