Hi, I was wondering if anyone here that is currently or previously worked hands-on tests/ research would be able to PM me.

I am looking for personal accounts, as I am a bit worried about what my experience may be if I wish to pursue Ethology. Some important information about me is that I have memory/ retention issues and a processing disorder.

Hi everyone. I have a question that's always been on my mind. Humans have been breeding dogs for millennia and have created various breeds with the most disparate appearance and with various and specific tasks. While cat breeds have only a few more restricted aesthetic or character differences and in any case their task is only the pet company or hunting of small harmful animals. Why is there this difference?

Genuinely curious for those in the profession, how were you able to do it? Ethology has been something I’ve been wanting to pursue for a very long time as a dream. Was honestly very thrilled to see everyone’s recommendations, studies, and ideas when I found this community. But my question is how were you able to get into ethology as a career? Do you teach? Research? What were the steps you have made to get where you are now? And is the salary worth it all? Everyone where I’m from truly has not a clue what ethology even is, regardless of any ideas to work in a similar field, aside from a veterinarian (which personally isn’t what I want to do). I want all the details. I really want to know if this is truly something obtainable, or if this is just a dream I should move past on, and only make it an interest. (For context, I’m 22 with a partial associates in biology with a focus in zoology. Couldn’t finish at the time due to the pandemic. But always considered returning to finish. It’s just seeing if this is an option for my future!) Thank you all for your feedback:)

I’m currently researching the dichotomy of agonic and hedonic behavior as fornulated by Michael Chance in ‚Social Groups of Monkeys, Apes and Man‘ (1970). I noticed that this conceps do not seem to be very wide spread in ethology or other disciplines except some publications around the year 2000. Are these conceps outdated or debunked? Has ethology moved on to different concepts? Any info on that would be great.

Hi! I tried to ask my question on r/askscience but no one answered me and later my post was removed.

I'll try it here. I live in Eastern Europe and I can see a difference between biologists and ethologists here and in other countries. Their thoughts on instincts are different. Many biologists in my region say that humans don't have instincts, but still, many people who have never done research justify their actions (mostly terrible ones), their habits, etc., as instincts.

I see it as complete ignorance. That's why I decided to research this topic. The problem is that I can't find the same opinion on the topic of instincts among biologists and ethologists in English. Without exception, they all assert that humans have instincts, but their examples often mix the concepts of instincts, needs, and even reflexes.

My question is: How do you study biology? Why do we have such divergent understandings of instincts? Are there any biologists who argue that humans lack instincts? I only know of such biologists from Russia or post-Soviet countries.

When I started my research, I came across videos and articles by ethologists that explain the definition of instincts and their mechanisms. However, I have never heard or seen anything like this in English.

I have translated and explained my perspective, as well as that of many biologists in my region:

One of the definitions of the scientific concept of "instinct" is "a combination of innate needs and the innate programs to satisfy them, consisting of a triggering signal and a program of action."

► Instinct = Innate Needs [IN] + Key Stimulus [KS] + Fixed Action Pattern [FAP]Innate needs [IN] refer to the internal requirements of an organism that are present from birth. These needs may include the need for food, water, safety, reproduction, and other physiological or behavioral needs.Key stimulus [KS] is an external or internal signal that triggers an instinctive response. The key stimulus can be a specific object, sound, smell, or situation that initiates the fixed action pattern.Fixed action pattern [FAP] represents a sequence of stereotypical and inherited actions that are activated in response to the key stimulus. This pattern of behavior does not require learning and is performed almost automatically.According to this formula, instinct is defined as the combination of innate needs, a key stimulus, and a fixed action pattern. It highlights the innate and automatic nature of instinctive behavior in response to specific stimuli.

In humans, such a complex of behavior does not exist. We either learn, exhibit unconditional reflexes (inborn reactions to stimuli), or, more commonly mistaken for instincts, experience needs or desires.

A clear example of the instinct of self-preservation is bear hibernation. Let's break it down:

► The combination of innate needs in our example is hibernation and building a den. This ensures the bear's survival as there is insufficient food available during winter. All brown bears, under certain conditions, enter hibernation.► The innate programs to satisfy these needs are evident in the construction of a den and the accumulation of food reserves throughout the summer.► The triggering signal for bears is the environmental conditions: the availability of food, temperature, snowfall, and so on.► The program of action is precise: all bears, regardless of subspecies or past experience, know how to build a den.In this example, bear hibernation aligns with the classic definition of instinct as a combination of innate needs, a triggering signal, and a specific program of action.

Hi all, I cant find the data of this paper: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00359-007-0251-9
Please help me out.

Would a bear, for instance, kill a lone sleeping hog that was caught unaware? Would a wolf attack a sleeping deer? I know that many animals hunt at night, and in most cases this wouldn’t matter. But do some animals, namely ‘higher mammals’ shall I say, have unspoken rules about certain things?

For example, if a bird of prey is caught out in the open, or if an owl is spotted in the forest by day, smaller birds will come together to mob it. Similarly, humans sometimes feel squeamish about killing something as it suckles, or sleeps, or drinks water. It feels like an abuse, a no-no, like there’s something particularly wrong and dangerous - perhaps even to ourselves - of permitting such behaviour.

Thus: are there certain unspoken rules of conduct that seem to be observed among and across some animals, at least to some degree, even in prey/predator relationships?

Is there a field in this science, a research group or something trying to fully understand and translate a language in some animal species? like birds or apes. would appreciate any papers or books on this subject if any.

I like observing birds and most urban mammals (cats, dogs, squirrels etc).

what is the behavior in humans where you are drinking alcohol (mostly trying to get drunk) and you're getting a buzz, and you still think it's a good idea to drink more? Like in the moment you might recognize you will in a moment be drunk from what you drank but still pour or order yourself another glass...

Hi guys, I'm looking for a general ethogram for dogs behaviors. Something general where I can find, for example, fear, aggression, dominance, etc...

Or maybe a book, articles recommendation...

Thanks.

Hello, is it possible to simultaneously collect data on state and event behaviour using an ethogram for one animal? I have videos of dogs I need to analyse, some of their behaviours are state eg panting, and some event eg lip licking. Obviously event behaviours can happen during state behaviours. How can I create a data sheet that allows me to collect both? Thank you

Hi all!

I am a biology and zoology student, but have little experience with ethology. I don't know is even ethology is suitable for my question, but here we go:

I noticed from little age, that I and my brother always tend to differentiate between two "subtypes" of sweet tasting foods. On one hand we have fruity tastes and on the other we have the likes of chocolate, vanilla, coffee, caramel and such. Growing up I also see people either always mixing or never mixing (like me) these subtypes if they have to pick two or more to consume at the same time. I also noticed that we tend to enjoy the second type in a suspension or cream (mainly with milk) and the other completely dissolved in water (juicy fruit of a juice). The idea intrigues me if this has some ethological background or if it is some evolutionary passdown. I have some ideas of looking into the subject with polls or discussions with others, but want to check if I am just a lunatic or if there is already studies about this.

Any opinion is welcome. Sorry for occasional grammatical errors.

Thanks!

I want to apologize in advance. English is not my native language, so it might be faulty or awkward to read. Thanks for understanding :)

To the point: I have a question to vacuum behaviour or rather how the motivation comes in play. Can a vacuum behaviour carried out solely because it hasnt been executed for a while? Not as comfortable, playful behaviour, more like moving after sitting still for hours.

Id appreciate you help ^^

Sorry if this post seems quite controversial, but I am starting from a position of total ignorance on the subject and would like to find some answers. This seemed to me the most appropriate sub.

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My perception is that we are lying to ourselves by associating "purely" human emotions with the animals we see. I am already aware of the mistakes we make in associating the physical expression of emotions with human ones (a dog that looks like it is smiling to us will be 'happy,' a turtle that looks like it has cried will be 'sad,' and so on); this happens and I am guilty of it too. But jumping back a little further... Do animals experience happiness, pain, abandonment, heartbreak, small joys, big disappointments exactly as we do?

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By this, let me be clear, I do not mean that animals do not feel emotions, but that I find it possible that the range of emotions felt by animals is different from that of humans and that it depends from animal to animal (a mussel has a different range from a giraffe) and that it is possible that the emotions felt by animals are totally alien to us. A dog receiving food perhaps does not interpret 'happiness,' but an emotion impossible for our human set of emotions to understand.

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In short, don't you think it is limiting to give animals the same emotions as us?

My dog loves everyone and always loves to be around people. My mom is a hairstylist and works from home so consistently people will be in and out of our home he has no problem with anyone except for one of the clients. He will bark aggressively in a way I never heard him before, he doesn't do this with anyone else. Ive read that dogs sense things like if a person has cancer or is pregnant so my mom mentioned she should go to the doctor and get checked out. Everything came back negative and had no cancer or health problems. Why doesn't my dog like her?