Biological Constraints on Learning

Very Hard Unit 4: Learning Biological Constraints

In the realm of learning and behavior, certain species exhibit distinct limitations in their ability to learn specific types of behaviors due to biological constraints. These constraints reflect the inherent adaptations that have evolved in different species. Consider the concept of biological preparedness, which suggests that organisms are predisposed to learn certain associations more readily than others. In light of this understanding, which of the following examples best illustrates the principle of biological constraints on learning?

A rat is conditioned to associate the sound of a bell with receiving food.

A pigeon learns to peck a red key for a food reward but does not easily learn to flap its wings for the same reward.

A child learns to fear a white rabbit after being scared by a loud noise when the rabbit is present.

A dolphin learns to perform tricks for fish rewards through operant conditioning.

A dog learns to run in circles after being rewarded with treats.

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