Abstract
Classical ethology, with its emphasis on separability of parts, has largely failed to do justice to the wholeness of the individual animal, to the integrity of group behaviour and to the continuity between observable behaviour and consciousness. Field theory has potentialities to do better, as illustrated in this paper with reference to morphogenetic and behavioural fields. A behavioural domain is delineated — playlike behaviour — where field theory is particularly relevant. It is shown that the concept of symmetry can suggest new questions as well as explain some generally known phenomena of group behaviour. New interpretations of displacement activities and of etho-ecological adaptations are offered, both of which involve the whole individual animal.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bak, P. and K. Chen (1991). Self organised criticality. Sci. Am. 264: 26–33.
Belintzev, B.N., L.V. Beloussov and A.G. Zaraisky (1987). Model of pattern formation in epithelial morphogenesis. J. Theor. Biol. 129: 369–394.
Beloussov, L.V., A.V. Lakirev, I.I. Naumidi and V.V. Novoselov (1990). Effects of relaxation of mechanical tensions upon the early morphogenesis ofXenopus laevis embryos. Int. J. Biol. 34: 409–419.
Bohm, D. (1980). Wholeness and the Implicate Order. London, Routledge and Kegan Paul.
Bruce, A. and D. Wallace (1989). Critical point phenomena: universal physics at large length scales. In: P. Davies ed., The New Physics, pp. 236–267. Cambridge University Press.
Chance, M.R.A. and W.M.S. Russell (1959). Protean displays: a form of allaesthetic behaviour. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 132: 65–70.
Chance, M.R.A. and C.J. Jolly (1970). Social Groups of Monkeys, Apes and Men. London, Jonathan Cape.
Collins, J.J. and I.N. Stewart (1993). Coupled nonlinear oscillators and the symmetries of animal gaits. J. Nonlinear Sci. 3: 349–392.
Cullen, E. (1957). Adaptations in the kittiwake to cliff-nesting. Ibis 99: 275–302.
Driesch, H. (1894). Analytische Theorie der organischen Entwicklung. W. Engelmann, Leipzig.
Driesch, H. (1906). Die Physiologie der tierischen Form. J.F. Bergmann, Wiesbaden.
Driver, P.M. and D.A. Humphries (1988). Protean Behaviour; the Biology of Unpredictability. Oxford, Clarendon Press.
Einstein, A. and L. Infeld (1938). Physik als Abenteuer der Erkenntnis. Leiden, A.W. Sijthoff.
Feekes, F. (1972). ‘Irrelevant’ ground pecking in agonistic situations in Burmese red junglefowl. Behaviour 43: 186–326.
Goodwin, B.C. and C. Brière (1992). A mathematical model of cytoskeletal dynamics and morphogenesis inActabularia. In: D. Menzel ed., The Cytoskeleton of the Algae. London, CRC Press.
Goslow, G.E. (1985). Neural control of locomotion. In: M. Hildebrand, D.M. Bramble, K.F. Liem and D.B. Wake eds., Functional Vertebrate Morphology, pp. 338–365. London, Belknap.
von Holst, E. (1934). Studien über Reflexe und Rhythmen beim Goldfisch. Z. vergl. Physiol. 20: 582–599.
von Holst, E. (1935a). Weitere Reflexstudien an spinalen Fischen. Z. vergl. Physiol. 21: 658–665.
von Holst, E. (1935b). Erregungsbildung und Erregungsleitung im Fischrückenmark. Pflüger's Archiv 235: 345–359.
von Holst, E. (1939). Die relative Koordination als Phänomen und als Methode zentralnervöser Functionsanalyse. Gesammelte Abhandlungen I. München, Piper pp.33–132.
Kelso, J.A.S. (1994). Elementary Coordination Dynamics. In: S.P. Swinnen, H. Heuer, J. Massion & P. Casaer eds. Interlimb Co-ordination; Neural, Dynamical and Cognitive Constraints, pp. 301–318. Academic Press.
Kortmulder, K. (1972). A comparative study in colour patterns and behaviour in seven AsiaticBarbus species; A progress report. Behaviour Suppl. XIX: 331 pp.
Kortmulder, K. (1974). On ethology and human behaviour. Acta Biotheor. 23: 55–76.
Kortmulder, K. (1982). Etho-ecology of 17Barbus species. Neth. J. Zool. 32: 144–168.
Kortmulder, K. (1983). Play-like behaviour: An essay in speculative ethology. Acta biotheor 32: 145–166.
Kortmulder, K. (1986a). The congener; A neglected area in the study of behaviour. Acta Biotheor. 35: 39–67.
Kortmulder, K. (1986b). Similar behaviour and colour patterns in three not closely relatedBarbus species. Is evolutionary convergence a likely explanation? Behaviour 98: 180–212.
Kortmulder, K. (1987). Ecology and behaviour in tropical freshwater fish communities. Arch. Hydrobiol. Beih. Ergebn. Limnol. 28: 503–513.
Kortmulder, K. (1990). Tederheid in zoölogisch perspectief. In: A.D. de Groot and J.P. Kruijt eds., Tederheid, pp. 62–74. Meppel, Boom.
Kortmulder, K. (1994) ‘Tederheid’ in zoological perspective. Social Biology and Human Affairs.
Kortmulder, K. and Th. E. Spreij (1990). The connectedness of all that is alive and the grounds of congenership; beyond a mechanicistic interpretation of life. Rivista di Biologia-Biology Forum 83: 107–127.
Kortmulder, K. and E. Feuth-de Bruijn. (1993) On some generative orders of behaviour. In: J.L. Dubbeldam, B.C. Goodwin and K. Kortmulder eds., Evolution, Development and Behaviour; In Search of Generative Orders of Biological Form and Process. Acta Biotheor. 41: 329–344.
Lietaert Peerbolte, M. (1968). Psychocybernetica; een psychisch-energetische inleiding. Amsterdam, de Bezige Bij.
Lietaert Peerbolte, M. (1975). Psychic Energy in Prenatal Dynamics, Parapsychology and Peak-Experiences. Katwijk, Servire.
Loizos, C. (1967). Play behaviour in higher primates, a review. In: D. Morris ed. Primate Ethology. Chicago, Aldine.
Morris, D. (1957). ‘Typical intensity’ and its relation to the problem of ritualisation. Behaviour 11: 1–12.
Odell, G.M., G. Oster, P. Alberch and B. Burnside (1981). The mechanical basis of morphogenesis. I. Epithelial folding and invagination. Dev. Biol. 85: 446–462.
Prigogine, I. and I. Stengers (1984). Order Out of Chaos. London, Fontana.
Russell, C. and W.M.S. Russell (1985). Conflict activities in monkeys. Social Biology and Human Affairs 50: 26–47.
Schmidt, R.C., C. Carello and M.T. Turvey (1990). Phase transitions and critical fluctuations in the visual coordination of rhythmic movements between people. Journal of Exp. Psychol.: Human Perception and Performance 16: 227–247.
Shepherd, G.M. (1988). Neurobiology. 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press.
Stewart, I. (in press). Symmetry-breaking cascades and the dynamics of morphogenesis and behaviour. In: Proceedings of the fourth Waddington Memorial Conference, Spello, 1993.
Stewart, I. and M. Golubitsky (1992). Fearful Symmetry: is God a Geometer? Oxford, Blackwell.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This paper is dedicated to W.M.S. Russell at the occasion of his retirement. He and Claire Russell invented most of what is new in ethology years or decades ago.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kortmulder, K. Towards a field theory of behaviour. Acta Biotheor 42, 281–293 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00707394
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00707394