Biological Constraints in Learning

Hard Unit 4: Learning Biological Constraints

In exploring the concept of biological constraints in learning, it is important to consider how these constraints can affect the outcomes of classical and operant conditioning. For example, some species have predisposed tendencies that make them more likely or more resistant to learning certain associations. One major study that highlighted these constraints involved the concept of biological preparedness, which posits that animals are genetically prepared to learn particular kinds of associations. Given this context, which of the following examples best illustrates the principle of biological constraints in learning?

A rat learns to associate a sound with an electrical shock, leading to a fear response.

A pigeon learns to peck a button to receive food after it initially receives a shock.

A child who is bitten by a dog develops a fear of all furry animals.

A monkey learns to open a box to obtain a banana, but only if the banana is placed outside the box.

A raccoon attempts to wash its food in water, despite being trained to retrieve it without this behavior.

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