Patterns of Behavior: Konrad Lorenz, Niko Tinbergen, and the Founding of Ethology

This detailed historical account of ethology's origins is a major contribution. Burkhardt, a noted science historian, probes the history of both outstanding pioneers in ethology and the basic observations as well as analyses that they brought forth.Ethology has been variously defined as the study of the biology of behavior and the examination of full patterns (rather than fragments) of behavior under natural conditions. It importantly supplemented the American tradition of behaviorism with its isolation of individual actions under strict experimental control, thus losing much of the richness of behavior as it occurs in the natural world.The combined evolutionary, developmental and immediate causal processes in behavior, along with a concern for the functions that behavior serve have been the hallmarks of ethological research as clearly explicated in Burkhardt's revelations.Today ethology reaches into, and even blends seamlessly with, a number of other behavioral and biological disciplines. Behavioral ecology, epigentics, neuroscience, and cognitive science are a few examples. I personally believe that the understanding of behavioral patterns, where actions both separate and combine, is critical to future progress in each of these fields. The contributions of ethology, in both field and laboratory, have played a major role in this endeavor. For readers interested in the biological roots of behavior and how they have been discovered will do well to read this excellent work.I suspect one needs a genuine interest in science history to fully appreciate the care with which this landmark volume was prepared.

A history of the invention of "ethology" the study of animal behavior.More a history than an explication, but still informative as to how people explore and predict difficult to understand phenomena.Look elsewhere for text on ethology per se.

Excellent read and very recommended

Thorough

Ok book, bit too many abstracts, some good references.