releaser

n. in ethology, a stimulus that, when presented under the proper conditions, initiates a fixed action pattern (see also modal action pattern). For example, a red belly on a male stickleback fish elicits aggressive behavior from other male sticklebacks but is attractive to gravid female sticklebacks. Also called sign stimulus. See also innate releasing mechanism; vacuum activity.

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Psychology term of the day

May 8th 2024

paraworld

n. a hypothetical world of ideal conditions that serves as a basis for formulating a model of some system or process believed to be true in the actual world. Such model building can be an important strategy in science.