In behavior analysis, what does a fixed action pattern refer to?

A fixed action pattern refers to a sequence of behaviors that is triggered by specific environmental cues and tends to occur in a relatively rigid and consistent manner once initiated. This concept is often associated with instinctive behaviors found in various species, where the response pattern unfolds automatically in the presence of particular stimuli, regardless of other contextual variables.

Option B accurately identifies this characteristic, emphasizing the relationship between the behavior and the specific cues that elicit it. Such behaviors are not learned through individual experience but are more innate and consistent across individuals of the same species.

The other options describe behaviors in ways that do not align with the definition of fixed action patterns. For instance, the idea of a learned behavior that is consistent across contexts would suggest flexibility and adaptability, which are not inherent to fixed action patterns. Similarly, a behavior that does not vary with context could imply a level of learning or adjustment that may not be present in instinctual patterns. Lastly, a spontaneous behavior without prior conditioning would underscore an impulsiveness that is not typically associated with the systematic nature of fixed action patterns, which are reliably triggered by defined stimuli.