Question

If a researcher is attempting to teach a pig to move discs to a designated location but is unable to because of the pigs rooting reflex (to push the disc into the dirt), __________ has occurred.

Answer 1

Lack of cognitive ability has occurred.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cognitive ability can be define as a general use or application of mental skills to carry out varying required task. Some of the cognitive capacities are; the ability to navigate through space, account for the passage of time, determine quantity, and remember events and locations. These abilities could be displayed by both the higher-class and lower-class animals, but to some varying degree.

Pigs have been found to have the ability to flexibly discriminate among conspecific due to their physiological and anatomical similarity with humans. The pig was not able to push the disc into the dirt because of lack of one or more of its cognitive abilities.

Answer 2

Instinctive drift

Step-by-step explanation:

Instinctive drift also referred to as instinctual drift is the tendency of humans or an animal going back to its innate and natural behaviour that contradicts a learnt behaviour. This concept proposed by Keller Breland and Marian Breland explains that humans and animals have a tendency to express innate instinctual behaviour which is in contrast to a conditioned response from a behaviour that has been learnt.

For example, the researcher in question tries to teach a pig to move discs to a designated location but is unable to because pigs innate instinctual behaviour was associated with playing in dirt. Thus, despite the lessons, the pigs reverts back through instinctual drift to its innate behaviour as against the learnt behaviour.