6 Flashcards
What is negative reinforcement?
Negative reinforcement strengthens behavior by removing something aversive when the desired behavior is achieved.
Example: A dog learns to sit to avoid pressure on its body when pushed down.
What is a continuous schedule of reinforcement?
A continuous schedule provides reinforcement after each successful task, such as giving a treat every time the dog sits on command.
What is an intermittent schedule of reinforcement?
An intermittent schedule provides reinforcement after a varying number of successful tasks, which is best for maintaining performance of known tasks.
What is positive reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement involves providing something of value to strengthen behavior, such as food or attention.
The timing of reinforcement can influence its value.
What is punishment in behavior modification?
Punishment is used to suppress behavior and make it less likely to occur again, with two forms defined by whether something is added or taken away.
What is negative punishment?
Negative punishment involves withholding something wanted to suppress ongoing behavior, which can lead to frustration.
Example: Not giving a treat for a delayed or sloppy sit.
What is positive punishment?
Positive punishment is the application of something aversive to suppress ongoing behavior in the future.
Example: Shouting at an animal to stop a particular behavior.
How is punishment defined?
Punishment is defined by its long-term impact on behavior, not its immediate effect.
What can happen when shouting at a dog for attention-seeking behavior?
Shouting may reinforce the behavior in the long run, as the dog receives attention.
What is the difference between obedience and well-behavedness?
Obedience involves following specific cues, while well-behavedness arises from general environmental cues without overt instructions.
What is an example of well-behavedness in dogs?
A dog sitting in anticipation of a meal without being asked is considered well-behaved.
How can positive reinforcement affect behavior problems in dogs?
Owners who use positive reinforcement are less likely to report behavior problems in their dogs.
What are the risks associated with positive punishment?
Positive punishment can damage the relationship between the animal and owner, leading to anxiety in the animal.
What is ‘one-shot learning’ in the context of aversives?
One-shot learning refers to the phenomenon where a single bad experience can create a strong aversive association.
What are the arguments against using aversives?
Aversives may stop unwanted behavior but do not encourage desirable behavior, and there are usually ethical alternatives available.
What is the effect of training on cues?
Training may lead to the generation of cues that negate the need to apply an aversive.
What is negative reinforcement?
Negative reinforcement requires some aversion, even if mild, to encourage compliance.
What is a continuous schedule of reinforcement?
Reinforcing each successful task, such as providing a treat after each time the owner gives the signal to sit and the dog sits.
What are the two types of intermittent schedules?
Intermittent schedules are divided into ratio and interval schedules.
What is a ratio schedule?
Reinforcement is given after either a fixed or variable number of repetitions of the task.
What is an interval schedule?
Reinforcement is given a fixed time after the animal performed the task.
What is the impact of withholding reinforcement?
Withholding reinforcement may reduce the tendency for the dog to try to perform the behavior.
What is the difference between punishment and reinforcement?
Punishment does not direct the animal towards a specific behavioral goal; it simply indicates that the current action is not beneficial.
What is positive punishment?
The application of something the animal does not like to suppress ongoing behavior in the future.
What is negative punishment?
Involves the withholding of something that is wanted to suppress ongoing behavior.
How can negative punishment occur during training?
Every time a trainer does not give a reward anticipated by the animal, they are applying negative punishment.
What is associative learning?
When a behavior consistently occurs with a particular consequence, the animal starts to predict the behavior that will lead to that consequence.
What is the relationship between positive reinforcement and behavior problems?
Owners who use positive reinforcement are less likely to report behavior problems in their dogs.
What are the risks of using positive punishment?
It may damage the relationship between the animal and the owner, leading to anxiety in the animal.
What is the association between positive punishment and aggressive behaviors?
Positive punishment may increase the risk of problem behavior and aggressive behaviors towards handlers.
What is a stronger reinforcer than food in certain situations?
A game which facilitates running and chasing is likely to be a stronger reinforcer than food in this situation.
What should be considered when recalling a dog?
Consider the distance the dog is being asked to recall and the level of difficulty associated with the environment.
What is the advised approach for training in challenging environments?
Start training in low-distraction environments and gradually increase the level of difficulty while managing the risk of errors.
What is behavioral redirection?
A technique where the problematic behavior is still allowed but is increasingly reinforced when displayed towards more selected targets.
Give an example of behavioral redirection in cats.
Training cats to use a scratch post rather than the furniture for scratching.
What is often at the heart of problem behaviors in animals?
The emotional element is often at the heart of the problem.
What might a cat’s hissing and biting indicate?
It might be responding out of pain or a fear of pain associated with previous experiences.
What is a more efficient treatment focus for behavioral issues?
Focusing on and managing the respective emotion rather than simply changing the behavior.
What are the two main approaches to changing emotional responses?
Changing the intensity of the emotion or changing the actual emotion associated with the context.
What is critical to appreciate when changing emotional responses?
It is not so much what the animal does, but how it feels that we are looking to change.
What are two common exercises taught for emotional control?
Impulse control and frustration tolerance.
What is a key element of skill development exercises?
The animal learns without a specific cue to change its behavior.
What is the purpose of redirecting animal behavior?
To motivate the animal to engage in a desired behavior rather than a problematic one, thus redirecting the behavior away from the problem context.
A common example in cats involves training them to use a scratch post rather than the furniture for scratching.
What is often at the heart of problem behaviors in animals?
The emotional element is often at the heart of the problem.
For example, a cat that hisses and bites when petted may be responding out of pain or fear of pain.
What is the focus of treatment for emotional responses in animals?
It is often more efficient to focus on managing the respective emotion rather than simply changing the behavior.
What is impulse control in animal training?
Impulse control is a technique used to help animals make better decisions by acting less impulsively.
This can be assessed in dogs using the Dog Impulsivity Assessment Scale (DIAS).
How can teaching self-settle help with impulsivity in animals?
Teaching animals to self-settle when they want something can help them become less impulsive overall.
What is frustration tolerance in animal training?
Frustration tolerance involves teaching animals to cope with frustration responses rather than acting quickly.
This requires careful exposure to situations the animal can cope with.
What is the risk of flooding in frustration tolerance training?
Flooding can lead to ethical and welfare concerns and may cause aggressive behavior in animals.
What are some exercises to teach frustration tolerance?
Exercises can include self-control with delayed rewards, coping with unmet expectations, and managing barrier frustration.
What should be monitored during frustration tolerance training?
It is important to pay attention to how aroused the animal becomes and how it copes with that arousal.
