Niko Tinbergen

Niko Tinbergen was a Dutch biologist and one of the founders of the field of ethology, which studies animal behavior. He introduced a framework for understanding behavior through four key questions: the cause (mechanism), development (ontogeny), function (adaptation), and evolution (phylogeny). Tinbergen’s work emphasized observing animals in their natural environments, leading to significant insights into instincts and social behaviors. He received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1973 for his research, highlighting the importance of behavioral studies in understanding both animals and humans. His ideas continue to influence biology and psychology today.