Unexplainable Who taught beavers to build dams?
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Jul 21, 2025 What drives animals to perform complex behaviors like dam-building and web-spinning? A neuroscientist challenges the idea of instinct, suggesting a deeper interplay of genetics and learning. Delving into examples from bees to cuckoos, the discussion unpacks how environmental factors shape behaviors traditionally thought to be innate. The complexities of animal imprinting and the nuances in species identification reveal a rich tapestry of social dynamics in the animal kingdom. It’s a thought-provoking exploration that redefines our understanding of nature versus nurture.
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Instinct Labels Halt Inquiry
- The concept of "instinct" is often used as a shortcut that blocks deeper scientific inquiry.
- Labeling behaviors as instinctive halts further questions about development and mechanisms.
Religious Roots of Instinct
- The idea of instinct stems from religious notions distinguishing humans from animals.
- Early ethologists, like Conrad Lorenz, framed behaviors as innate triggers rather than complex learning.
Chick Attraction Begins in Egg
- Gilbert Gottlieb showed chicks develop attraction to maternal calls while still in the egg.
- Preventing chick vocalizations inside eggs disrupts this species-typical behavior development.