Biology / Unit 14 Bio 3619 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Innate Behavior and Fixed Action Patterns
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The idea
Innate behavior is inherited and performed correctly without experience; a fixed action pattern is a stereotyped sequence that, once triggered, runs to completion.
In practice
A graylag goose retrieves an egg-shaped object with the same rolling motion even after the object is removed mid-retrieval.
Where people slip
A fixed action pattern runs to completion once triggered — removing the stimulus mid-sequence does not stop it.
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