Determinants of Animal Behaviour

1. What is non-human animal behaviour?
2. Why study animal behaviour?
3. The role of evolution in animal behaviour
4. Benefits gained from studying animal behaviour
5. How do we study animal behaviour?
6. The ethological method of studying animal behaviour
7. The laboratory experimental method of studying animal behaviour
8. Points to note when studying animal behaviour
9. Summary
10. Introduction to evolutionary theory
11. Basic concepts in evolutionary theory
12. Genetic and environmental determinants of behaviour
13. Applying the theory of evolution
14. Introduction to altruism
15. Altruism in the animal kingdom
16. Evolutionary explanations of altruism
17. Group selection theory
18. Evaluation of group selection theory
19. Kin selection theory
20. Evidence for kin selection theory
21. Evaluation of kin selection theory
22. Kin recognition
23. Conclusion on kin selection theory
24. Reciprocal altruism theory
25. Manipulated altruism (social parasitism)
26. Conclusion on evolutionary explanations of altruism
27. Evolutionary explanations of territoriality
28. Introduction to territorial behaviour
29. Territoriality for food resources
30. Territoriality for mating opportunities
31. Game theory and territorial behaviour
32. Evaluation of game theory
33. Conclusion on territorial behaviour
34. Conclusion on evolutionary explanations of behaviour
35. Co-evolution theory
36. Learning theory
37. Summary
38. Introduction to conditioning theory
39. Classical conditioning and its role in animal behaviour
40. Example of classical conditioning
41. Historical background of classical conditioning
42. Principles of classical conditioning
43. Evaluation of classical conditioning
44. Historical background of operant conditioning
45. Thorndike’s theory of instrumental conditioning
46. Skinner’s modifications to instrumental conditioning
47. Role of operant conditioning in animal behaviour
48. Procedures in operant conditioning research
49. Evaluation of operant conditioning
50. Comparative evaluation of classical and operant conditioning
51. Biological importance of conditioning
52. Similarities and differences between classical and operant conditioning
53. Summary
54. Introduction to social learning
55. Definition of social learning
56. Explanations of social learning in animals
57. Role of social learning in animal behaviour
58. Research on social learning
59. Observational studies as evidence
60. Experimental studies as evidence
61. Evaluation of social learning
62. Conclusion on social learning
63. Intelligence in animals
64. Definition of intelligence
65. Evidence of intelligent behaviour
66. Tool use and fabrication in captivity
67. Evaluation of tool use as evidence of intelligence
68. Theory of mind in animals
69. Overall conclusion on theory of mind
70. Summary
71. Essay writing skills
72. Practice essays
73. Key research summaries
74. Article: Predictability in Pavlovian fear conditioning
75. Article: Use of landmarks in homing behaviour
76. Article: Observational learning in octopuses
77. Glossary
78. Bibliography
79. Index