Which term describes behavior that is programmed within animals?

The term that describes behavior that is programmed within animals is "instinct." Instinctive behaviors are innate, meaning they are not learned through experience but are part of the animal’s genetic makeup. These behaviors are often crucial for survival, such as mating rituals, feeding patterns, and migration. Instincts are typically consistent across members of a species and can be observed even in animals that have never been exposed to specific environments or situations.

Conditioned responses, on the other hand, are behaviors that animals learn through association, such as Pavlov's dogs salivating at the sound of a bell after it has been paired with food. Learned behavior is acquired through experience, meaning it involves processes such as trial and error or social learning, where an animal learns from observing others. Reflex actions refer to automatic responses to stimuli that do not require thought, like pulling away from a hot surface, but these are also not programmed behaviors in the way instincts are. Thus, instinct is the most accurate term for behavior that is inherently part of an animal's biology.