How can four questions that biologists use to study animal behavior help us understand our own behavior?
How can this help us understand another's behavior, emotions & actions
Can we use these questions to ask ourselves why people do the things they do? Perhaps asking ourselves these questions about another person's behavior and actions will help us to become empathetic to their actions. Understanding from an evolutionary point of view instead of a psychological point of view allows us to understand actions in a different way. We can use this to ask ourselves why a person is doing what he or she is doing, and also for ourselves.
The questions are categorized by: dynamic view, static view, Proximate view, Ultimate view that asks why and how behavior develops from our genetics to the environment around us. Although these were designed to study an entire species and intended for a long-term observation, we can also use it to help us as diary cards in DBT do.
The questions asked:
Function/ Adaptation: What is the function of the trait? Why does this animal have this trait (for us, however we would ask ourselves the question "why do I have this trait?") Why has having this trait helped me to survive. What does this trait do for me and my survival?
Phylogeny/ Evolutionary: What is the history of the trait? Why did it come to exist?
Mechanism/ Causation: How does this trait work? (ex. how is hunger caused? How is anger caused?)
Development/ Ontogeny: How did this trait develop over time from our ancestors to me.
To answer these questions observe not only how these traits came to be from our ancestors and their environment, but also neurologically, physiologically, and genetically. How are these traits helping us in life now?
Can we use these questions to ask ourselves why people do the things they do? Perhaps asking ourselves these questions about another person's behavior and actions will help us to become empathetic to their actions. Understanding from an evolutionary point of view instead of a psychological point of view allows us to understand actions in a different way. We can use this to ask ourselves why a person is doing what he or she is doing, and also for ourselves.
The questions are categorized by: dynamic view, static view, Proximate view, Ultimate view that asks why and how behavior develops from our genetics to the environment around us. Although these were designed to study an entire species and intended for a long-term observation, we can also use it to help us as diary cards in DBT do.
The questions asked:
Function/ Adaptation: What is the function of the trait? Why does this animal have this trait (for us, however we would ask ourselves the question "why do I have this trait?") Why has having this trait helped me to survive. What does this trait do for me and my survival?
Phylogeny/ Evolutionary: What is the history of the trait? Why did it come to exist?
Mechanism/ Causation: How does this trait work? (ex. how is hunger caused? How is anger caused?)
Development/ Ontogeny: How did this trait develop over time from our ancestors to me.
To answer these questions observe not only how these traits came to be from our ancestors and their environment, but also neurologically, physiologically, and genetically. How are these traits helping us in life now?
References
Wikipedia. (2017, November 09). Tinbergen's four questions. Retrieved December 16, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinbergen%27s_four_questions
Wilson, D. S. (2011, May 28). What’s Evolution Got To Do With It? II. The Other Tinbergen and His Four Questions. Retrieved December 16, 2017, from http://scienceblogs.com/evolution/2011/05/28/whats-evolution-got-to-do-with-1/
Crisley,K. "Tinbergen’s four questions | DoggyMom.com." Doggymom.com. n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://doggymom.com/tag/tinbergens-four-questions/>
Aaron N.k. Haiman. "Tinbergen’s Four Questions." abirdingnaturalist. 3 Apr. 2013. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://abirdingnaturalist.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/tinbergens-four-questions/>
N.a. "Hirata Biology 342 Ophiocordyceps Unilateralis Tinbergen Four Questions." Reed.edu. n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <http://www.reed.edu/biology/courses/BIO342/2015_syllabus/2014_WEBSITES/khsite/tinenbergen.html>
Vetsci. "An Introduction to Animal Behaviour and Sociobiology." VetSci. 7 Feb. 2010. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <http://vetsci.co.uk/2010/02/07/an-introduction-to-animal-behaviour-and-sociobiology/>
Global Animal Partnership. "Understanding animal behavior: Niko Tinbergen’s Four Questions - Global Animal Partnership." Global Animal Partnership. 1 Jul. 2016. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://globalanimalpartnership.org/about/news/post/understanding-animal-behavior-niko-tinbergens-four-questions/>
Oakblood. "Tinbergen: The Four Questions & Super Stimulus." Freethought Lebanon. 15 Feb. 2012. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <http://www.freethoughtlebanon.net/2012/02/tinbergen-the-four-questions-super-stimulus/>
SparkNotes Editors. (n.d.). SparkNote on Introduction To Animal Behavior. Retrieved December 30, 2017, from http://www.sparknotes.com/biology/animalbehavior/intro/
Comparatively Psyched. "The robin’s song: A case study of four questions." Comparatively Psyched. 14 Nov. 2013. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://comparativelypsyched.wordpress.com/2013/11/14/the-robins-song-a-case-study-of-four-questions/>
EvoS Seminar Series. "Niko Tinbergen's 4 Questions - YouTube." Youtube.com. n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NRU6iH5lzs>
Tinbergen,N. "." Reed.edu. 26 Aug. 2006. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <http://www.reed.edu/biology/courses/BIO342/2012_syllabus/2012_readings/Tinb_1963.pdf>
Wikipedia. (2017, November 09). Tinbergen's four questions. Retrieved December 16, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinbergen%27s_four_questions
Wilson, D. S. (2011, May 28). What’s Evolution Got To Do With It? II. The Other Tinbergen and His Four Questions. Retrieved December 16, 2017, from http://scienceblogs.com/evolution/2011/05/28/whats-evolution-got-to-do-with-1/
Crisley,K. "Tinbergen’s four questions | DoggyMom.com." Doggymom.com. n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://doggymom.com/tag/tinbergens-four-questions/>
Aaron N.k. Haiman. "Tinbergen’s Four Questions." abirdingnaturalist. 3 Apr. 2013. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://abirdingnaturalist.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/tinbergens-four-questions/>
N.a. "Hirata Biology 342 Ophiocordyceps Unilateralis Tinbergen Four Questions." Reed.edu. n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <http://www.reed.edu/biology/courses/BIO342/2015_syllabus/2014_WEBSITES/khsite/tinenbergen.html>
Vetsci. "An Introduction to Animal Behaviour and Sociobiology." VetSci. 7 Feb. 2010. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <http://vetsci.co.uk/2010/02/07/an-introduction-to-animal-behaviour-and-sociobiology/>
Global Animal Partnership. "Understanding animal behavior: Niko Tinbergen’s Four Questions - Global Animal Partnership." Global Animal Partnership. 1 Jul. 2016. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://globalanimalpartnership.org/about/news/post/understanding-animal-behavior-niko-tinbergens-four-questions/>
Oakblood. "Tinbergen: The Four Questions & Super Stimulus." Freethought Lebanon. 15 Feb. 2012. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <http://www.freethoughtlebanon.net/2012/02/tinbergen-the-four-questions-super-stimulus/>
SparkNotes Editors. (n.d.). SparkNote on Introduction To Animal Behavior. Retrieved December 30, 2017, from http://www.sparknotes.com/biology/animalbehavior/intro/
Comparatively Psyched. "The robin’s song: A case study of four questions." Comparatively Psyched. 14 Nov. 2013. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://comparativelypsyched.wordpress.com/2013/11/14/the-robins-song-a-case-study-of-four-questions/>
EvoS Seminar Series. "Niko Tinbergen's 4 Questions - YouTube." Youtube.com. n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NRU6iH5lzs>
Tinbergen,N. "." Reed.edu. 26 Aug. 2006. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <http://www.reed.edu/biology/courses/BIO342/2012_syllabus/2012_readings/Tinb_1963.pdf>