Question

269. A fixed action pattern is best illustrated by which of the following examples?

(A) Jackie's need to climb mountains
(B) Marlon's motivation to make a lot of money
(C) A baboon rising on hind feet when threatened
(D) A dog sitting by the window an hour before his owner comes home
(E) Michael's cat purring when she hears the can opener

Answer 1

The correct illustration of a fixed action pattern from the provided options is (C) A baboon rising on hind feet when threatened, as this behavior is an innate, hardwired response that automatically completes once initiated.

Step-by-step explanation:

A fixed action pattern is an innate, preprogrammed response to a specific stimulus that, once initiated, runs to completion regardless of whether the initial stimulus is still present. This type of behavior is not learned; it is hardwired and will occur the same way every time in response to the stimulus. A classic example provided in the question's context is the reaction of male three-spined sticklebacks, which attack a red-bottomed object mistaking it for a rival male stickleback, displaying such a fixed action pattern.

The best example that illustrates a fixed action pattern from the given options is (C) A baboon rising on hind feet when threatened. This is because the baboon's behavior is an instinctual and predictable reaction to a threatening scenario and will be carried out to completion once initiated, similar to the stickleback's response to the red stimulus.