What is it called when learned behaviors, such as those established through operant conditioning, are replaced by innate behaviors related to food?

The phenomenon described is known as instinctual drift, which occurs when learned behaviors, often acquired through operant conditioning, revert to instinctual or innate behaviors. This is particularly observed in animals that have been trained to perform specific tasks or behaviors in a controlled environment but then exhibit instinctual behaviors that are typically related to their natural tendencies, such as foraging or feeding, when placed in a situation where those innate behaviors are triggered.

In the context of operant conditioning, animals can learn to perform behaviors for rewards, but when faced with a situation that activates their natural instincts, those innate behaviors can overshadow the learned responses. This concept highlights the complex interplay between learned and innate behaviors and demonstrates how biological predispositions can influence behavior even after conditioning.

Understanding instinctual drift helps to illustrate the limits of learning in terms of behavior modification, emphasizing that certain ingrained instincts are resilient and can emerge under specific circumstances, potentially overriding conditioned responses. This is a critical concept in behavioral psychology and helps explain variations in animal training and behavior.