How do learned behaviors obscure stereotyped responses in animals?

In the study of animal behavior, it is often difficult to identify specific stereotyped responses in highly evolved animals because learned behavior patterns can obscure the underlying unlearned, genetically determined reactions.1

While stereotyped responses serve as the fundamental building blocks of instinctive behavior, the complexity of an animal's learned actions can mask these integral parts. As animals develop, they acquire information through experience to adjust to their specific environment, which can overlay or modify the expression of innate, machinelike responses.12

Furthermore, the study of these behaviors is complicated by the historical divide between ethology and comparative psychology. Ethologists have traditionally focused on the evolution of innate instincts, while comparative psychologists have often emphasized the role of environmental influences and learning. Today, it is widely recognized that both genetic predispositions and environmental experiences are essential to understanding animal behavior, as animals possess specialized learning mechanisms that are themselves governed by genetically determined rules.12