What type of behavior is primarily driven by genetics and evolutionary history?

Study for the Animal Behavior and Restraint Test. Prepare with practice questions, flashcards, hints, and detailed explanations. Enhance your knowledge and get ready to excel in your exam!

Instinctive behavior is primarily driven by genetics and evolutionary history, as it refers to innate actions that organisms perform without prior experience or learning. These behaviors are hardwired into an animal’s biology, often ensuring survival and reproductive success. For instance, behaviors such as migration, mating rituals, and nest building are influenced by genetic factors that have evolved over time to enhance the species' adaptability.

In contrast, learned behavior relies on past experiences and interactions with the environment, which are not dictated by genetics but rather by stimulus-response associations or social learning processes. Social behavior encompasses interactions between members of the same species, which can include learned aspects but do not solely depend on genetic predisposition. Conditioned behavior, often resulting from associative learning through reinforcement, also does not arise purely from genetic influences but instead involves experience and environmental factors. Thus, instinctive behavior stands out as the type deeply rooted in genetics and evolutionary history.

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