Fagen Et Al (psych/backround)

Question 1

Describe the psychology being investigated simply?

Answer 1

1. Operant conditioning
2. Animal learning and behaviour modification
3. Impact of training methods on Animal welfare
4. Understanding Animal Behaviour and Cognition

Question 2

Define captive elephant welfare

Answer 2

• The principle that a captive animals health and well-being needs should be met
• For instance, an animals natural needs for adequate accomadation, social enviroment, freedom of movement, food and water should be met

Question 3

Define postive reinforcement

Answer 3

• Involves rewarding desirable behaviour to increase the likelihood its repeated

Question 4

Define operant conditioning

Answer 4

• Learning through the consequnces of actions

Question 5

Define a postive/ primary reinforcer

Answer 5

• A naturally occuring reward that fulfils a biological need

Question 6

Define a negative reinforcer

Answer 6

• Removing an unpleasant/ uncomfortable stimulus to increase the likelihood the behaviour is repeated

Question 7

Define secondary reinforcer

Answer 7

• A reward that is associated with the primary reinforcer (needs learnt)

Question 8

Define Secondary Postive reinforcement

Answer 8

• A type of postive reinforcement training method
• Which involves a secondary reinforcer (like a sound marker) being used
• Which is then followed by the adminsitration of a primary (positive) reinforcer like food.
• In which the animals are conditioned to build an association between
  Following conditioning, the marker will be used to reward the desired behaviour. But to maintain this assoication food rewards are given at intervals.

Question 9

Define mahout

Answer 9

• a person who works with, rides, and tends an elephant.

Question 10

Define protected contact

Answer 10

• the keeper has contact with the elephant through a** protective barrier**
• While the elephant is not spatially confined and is free to leave the work area at will.

Question 11

Define behavioural chaining

Answer 11

• The process that allows seperately trained behaviours to be performed in a sequence ( in reponse to cues)

Question 12

Define trunk wash

Answer 12

• A method for diagnosing TB
• Where a saline solution (100ml) is injected in each nostril of the trunk. The trunk is lifted either actively by the elephant or passively by the keeper.
• So the solution runs down to trunks base.
• The mixture of the solution and trunk mucus is collected in sterile plastic bags by elphant actively blowing trhough its trunk (training required)

Question 13

Define free contact

Answer 13

• The direct handling of an elephant
• when the keeper and the elephants share the same unrestricted space,

Question 14

Define desensitisation

Answer 14

• To reduce/extinguish a response to a specfic stimuli (fear to a syringe)

Question 15

1. Operant conditioning

Answer 15

• Learning through the consequence of actions.
• Explains how humans and animals develop complex behaviours (by shaping)
• In SPR, desirable behaviours are reinforced with rewards to increase the likelihood this behaviour will be repeated.
• SPR also used secondary reinforcers like sound markers and pairs them with primary reinforcers.
• This technque contrasts with traditional methods that use negative reinforcement/ punishment
• Postive reinforcement methods have been shown to imporve the psychological well being of elephants

Question 16

2.Animal Learning and Behavior Modification

Answer 16

• The sudy explores how operant conditioning (learning theory) can be applied to animals like elephants
• Specfically how behavioural modification technques like reinforement and behavioral changing can be integrated into animal training

Question 17

3Understanding animal behaviours and cognitions

Answer 17

• The study contributes to understanding in the cognitive capabilities of elphants including their
• Ability to learn
• Rememeber
• Respond to training cues
• And how they can be utilised in training

Question 18

Summarise the backround of the study: Relating to previous training methods

Answer 18

• Reflects needs for reward based training and protected contact between elephants. Moving away from punishment/ aversive stimuli to shape behaviour. Due to concerns about aniaml welfare and keeper safety

Answer 19

• Diagnosing and treating illness in elephants is a crucial part of captive animal welfare. So to avoid punishment based methods SPR is explored
• SPR sucessfuly used with (pandas,primates, antelope)
• Advantages of this method- shapes animal behaviour with the goal of improving their health
• TB= Best detected through samples from elephants trunks through a trunk wash method. (many samples have been insufficent for testing as its hard to get elephanst to perfom the trunk wash correctly)

Question 20

Define Tuberculosis

Answer 20

• A serious respiratory disease
• Huge concern in the captive animal population
• Can be passed between animal and human