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A behavior where an organism acts in a way that benefits others at a cost to itself. Explained in comparative psychology through the lens of kin selection and inclusive fitness.

A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired: a response which is at first elicited by the second stimulus is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.

A kind of rapid learning that occurs in a specific critical period of an animal's life, where it forms attachments and develops a concept of its identity.

A theory that analyzes the behavior animals use to find, store, and consume food, often utilizing the optimal foraging theory.

A mode of natural selection where members of one biological sex choose mates of the other sex, and compete with members of the same sex.

A type of natural selection that considers the role relatives play when determining fitness; individuals can pass on their genes by helping relatives produce more offspring.

A behavior whereby an organism acts in a way that temporarily reduces its fitness while increasing another organism's fitness, with the expectation of a return of the favor.

A method of learning that employs rewards and punishments for behavior. Through operant conditioning, an individual makes associations between a particular behavior and a consequence.

A range of voluntary, intrinsically motivated activities done for recreational pleasure and enjoyment in animals, often seen in mammals.

A similarity of one organism, usually an animal, to another that has evolved because the resemblance is selectively favored by the behavior of a shared signal receiver that can respond to both.

Learning that occurs as a function of observing, retaining and replicating novel behavior executed by others.

Systems of social organization wherein individuals within a group are ranked relative to one another. Higher-ranking animals often have greater access to resources and mates.

The methods by which an animal, or a group of animals, protects its territory from incursions by others of its species.

The ability of animals to use objects as functional means to achieve a goal, a behavior considered to be indicative of complex cognitive processes.

A strategy used by certain animals, typically birds, where the parasite bird lays its eggs in the nest of a host bird, leaving the host to invest energy in raising the parasite's young.

An interaction between two species within a community, where the behavior of one species benefits or is closely connected to the other.

Behavior intended to harm or assert dominance over another individual. It serves a number of functions such as territory defense, and establishing social hierarchies.

A psychological learning process wherein there is a decrease in response to a stimulus after being repeatedly exposed to it. This has survival benefits such as ignoring irrelevant stimuli.

A survival strategy that involves the regular, often seasonal, movement of individuals or groups of animals from one region or habitat to another.