Animal Behavior Flashcards
Positive reinforcement
The addition of a pleasant stimulus to increase a behavior
Positive punishment
The addition of an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior
Negative reinforcement
The removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior
Animal doing it themselves
Negative punishment
The removal of a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior
Ethology
Study of behavior
Anthropomorphism
The attribution of human characteristics, motivation, or emotions to animals or inanimate objects
Neoteny
The presence if immature characteristics into adulthood
Pheromone
A substance released outside of the body and perceived by other animals of the same species releasing specific behavior in the percipient
Docile
Tame and easy going
Agonistic
Competitive or combative
Solitary
Single, alone, living without others
Gregarious
Tending to move in or form a group, as a herd, pack or flock, with others of the same species
Harem
A group of females and young defended by a single male
Bachelor herd
Herd of adult males without harems
Posture
An attitude of the body, the natural and comfortable bearing of the body on normal, healthy animals
Piloerection
Hair standing up on the hackles
Dominant
Exerting a ruling or controlling influence
Subordinate
Belonging to s lower class or rank
Submissive
Yeilding or surrendering to the authority of another
Hierarchy
Social order
Obedience
The act of obeying or carrying out a command
Compliance with order, request or command
Stimulus
Something that excites or activates
Altricial
Helpless at birth or hatching, requiring parental care for a period of time
Precocial
Active and able to move freely from birth or hatching with little parental care
Imprinting
Learning in the very young based mainly on maternal attachment and acquisition of basic behavior patterns
Extinction
Behavioral modification technique that removes a positive reward for a previously rewarded behavior
Counterconditioning
Training an animal to preform a response to a stimulus that is different and incompatible with the previous response to the same stimulus
Desensitization
Using a gradually increasing stimulus to reduce the stimulus’ impact on the animal
Socialization
The process of familiarization between animals in a group and, with companion animals, between the animal and human or other objects and environments
Temperament
Emotional and mental qualities of an individual
Aggression
Behavior that is angry and destructive and intended to be injurious, physically or emotionally, and aimed at domination of one animal by another
Separation anxiety
Display of destructive behavior, vocalization, urination and defecation by some dogs when left alone or separated from their owners (humans)
Ventriculocordectomy
Debarking
Punch resection of the vocal cords
Devocalization
Stereotypy
Excessive, repetitive behavior
