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A stochastic optimality theory of preparedness and plasticity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2010

Aurelio José Figueredo
Aurelio José Figueredo
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721. ajf@arizvms/ajf@ccit.arizona.edu
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Abstract

Many now consider “instinct” and “learning” opposite poles of a unidimensional continuum. An alternative model with two independently varying parameters predicts different selective pressures. Behavioral adaptation matches the organism's utilizations of stimuli and responses to their ecological validities: the mean validity over evolutionary time specifies the optimal initial potency of the prepared association; the variance specifies the optimal prepared plasticity.

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Open Peer Commentary
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Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , June 1995, pp. 300 - 301
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Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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