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Ultimate explanations and suboptimal choice.

Marco Vasconcelos1, Armando Machado2, Josefa N S Pandeirada3

  • 1Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Portugal; CESAM, University of Aveiro, Portugal.

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|April 3, 2018
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Behavioral deviations from rationality offer insights into adaptive mechanisms. Animals may incur foraging losses by choosing informative over rich options, a strategy explained by evolutionary models.

Keywords:
Long-Term rateMechanismNatural selectionRationalitySub-Optimal choiceUltimate explanation

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Animal Behavior

Background:

  • Observed deviations from rational choice principles in animal behavior.
  • Understanding the adaptive significance of mechanisms underlying these deviations is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose that behavioral deviations from rationality are valuable tools for understanding adaptive mechanisms.
  • To explain how adaptive mechanisms might lead to suboptimal foraging choices.

Main Methods:

  • Detailed examination of an experimental protocol involving animal foraging choices.
  • Review of a model inspired by optimal foraging principles to reconcile suboptimal choice with natural selection.
  • Critical testing of the model's assumptions and predictions.

Main Results:

  • Animals systematically incur foraging losses by preferring lean, informative options over rich, non-informative ones.
  • The reviewed model successfully reconciles suboptimal choice with evolutionary principles.
  • Critical tests upheld the model's assumptions and predictions.

Conclusions:

  • Known behavioral mechanisms can inform ultimate accounts of behavior.
  • Understanding the evolution of suboptimal behavior requires considering its adaptive value within an animal's specific ecology.