Biology B3.2 - Instinctive and Learned Behaviour

Instinctive behaviour is behaviour that has evolved over millions of years by natural selection, it is inherited from parents and is innate so it is available immediately to aid survival from birth and this includes reflexes.

Learned behaviour is when experience changes the way the animal behaves. There are 3 types to learn: imprinting, habituation and conditioning.

Imprinting is where we learn to recognise and follow our parents this allows us to find food, shelter and avoid predators. Attachment to the parent only occurs during a sensitive period and after that it is…