From Karen Pryor; “Don’t Shhot The Dog” Flashcards
Define Positive Reinforcement
“…anything which, occurring in conjunction with an act, tends to increase the probability that the act will occur again.” Ch 1, pg 1
What are the two kinds of reinforcement?
Positive and negative
Ch1, pg1
Define Positive Reinforcement
“A positive reinforcement is something the subject wants,such as food, petting or praise.”
Ch1, pg 1
Define Negative Reinforcement
“A negative reinforcement is something the subject wants to avoid—a blow, a frown, an unpleasant sound (the warning buzzer in cars if you don’t fasten your seatbelt is a negative reinforcement).” Ch1, pg1
“A major point in training reinforcement is that you can’t ________ behavior that is ______ ___________.”
reinforce
not occurring
Ch1,pg2
How can the individual use positive reinforcement to change personal behavior on a small scale leading to situational improvements?
By changing self talk from cursing one’s errors to using personal praise when wanted behaviors occur. Ch 1, pgs 2&3
Reinforcements are relative, not absolute. In order to be reinforcing, the item chosen must be something the subject ________.
wants.
For example, rain is a positive reinforcement to ducks, a negative reinforcement for cats and cows are indifferent to rain. Ch 1,pg 3
“it is useful to have a variety of ____________ for any training situation.”
reinforcements
Ch 1, pg 3
Describe negative reinforcement and give an example.
“Negative reinforcement is something a subject will work to avoid.” Examples are a draft that makes you move to a warmer seat, or at the extreme an electric shock. Ch 1, pg 4&5.
Negative reinforcement is not ______________.
punishment.
“Negative reinforcement is not punishment. Punishment comes after the behavior it is meant to affect.” Ch1, pg 5
Discuss the differences between negative reinforcement and punishment.
Timing is a key feature in that punishment comes AFTER the unwanted behavior. Conversely negative reinforcement comes at the time of the behavior and can be stopped or avoided if the behavior is stopped. Ch1, pg 5.
What role does “timing” play in reinforcement?
“Reinforcement must occur in conjunction with the act it is meant to modify.” Ch 1, pg 6
What is one of the biggest challenges with reinforcement the beginning trainer faces?
“Laggardly reinforcement is the beginning trainer’s biggest problem.” Timing of reinforcement is challenging because by the time you can get to the reinforcement it may be late, and therefore less effective or not effective at all. Ch 1, pg 6
When you find you’re having difficulties in a training situation what is the first question to ask yourself and what would a remedy for that problem be?
“Am I reinforcing too late?”
A remedy may be, if working with an animal, having a colleague observe for late reinforcement. Ch 1, pg 6
Why is reinforcing too early a problem?
It can lead to unwanted behaviors. For example, bribery or reinforcement of behavior that hasn’t happened yet can lead to reinforcing the wrong behaviors. (Gorilla example) Ch 1, pg 7
