Trigger Feature

A "trigger feature" is a specific stimulus that activates a "fixed-action pattern," which is an automatic, stereotyped behavior. It's a single piece of information that we use as a shortcut to make decisions.

For example, the "cheep-cheep" sound of a baby turkey is a trigger feature that causes the mother turkey to exhibit maternal behavior.

In humans, a trigger feature could be a high price, which might signal quality, or a celebrity endorsement, which might signal trustworthiness.

Related Concepts

• Fixed-Action Patterns Trigger Automatic Responses