Which type of explanation focuses on the immediate causes of behavior?

Proximate explanations focus on the immediate, mechanistic causes of behavior, such as the physiological or developmental processes that lead to a particular action. This includes understanding how an organism's nervous system, hormones, and sensory inputs interact to produce behavior in the short term.

For example, if a bird is singing, a proximate explanation would explore how the bird's brain and vocal cords function together to produce the sound, as well as the role of motivation or environmental triggers such as the presence of a mate or territory. In contrast to ultimate explanations—those that consider the evolutionary significance or adaptive value of a behavior—proximate explanations are concerned with the "how" of behavior rather than the "why."

Recognizing this distinction is crucial in the study of animal behavior as it allows researchers to investigate both the immediate and evolutionary factors that shape behavior patterns.