Learning and Behaviour Modification Flashcards
what are the 3 disciplines of clinical behaviour in animals
- Ethology based: adaption of behaviour in natural conditions
- Physiological basis: behaviour influenced by physiological process. Secondary to disease
- Learning based: behaviour modification directed at rewarding ‘good’ and punishing ‘bad’ behaviour
what is the Illness model and what is the problem with is
-shows that abnormal behaviour is a disease (mental diseases)
problem:
treatments may not be long lasting. The pets might revert back to abnormal behaviour over time
define behavioural modification and its 2 principles
intentional or structural use of conditioning or learning procedures to modify behaviour
- reward good behaviour
- disincentive of improper behaviour
what is positive reinforcement
good behaviour receives good stimulus
ex.) giving treat for good behaviour
What is positive punishment
bad behaviour receives bad stimulus
ex) using a shock collar when animal misbehaves
what is negative reinforcement
good behaviour prevents bad stimulus
ex) if animal behaves well don’t use shock collar (take away)
what is negative punishment
bad behaviour prevent good stimulus (take away good stimulus)
ex) don’t give a treat if animal is acting bad
what is habituation
repeating stimuli until the stimuli no longer induces unwanted behaviours
what is flooding
providing stimuli at full amount in order to desensitize the animal to it
what is systematic desensitization
gradual habituation
a type of exposure therapy that associates a pleasant relaxed state with gradually increasing anxiety provoking stimuli
what is classical conditioning
learning how to associate an automatic behaviour with a stimulus
what is an unconditioned and conditioned stimulus
unconditioned: naturally causes a response
conditioned: does not naturally cause a response
what are adverse responses
the ‘innate state’ of the dog associated with an unpleasant event
ex) dog associated the vet with pain
what is operant conditioning
specific consequences are associated with a voluntary behaviour
rewards introduced to increase a behaviour (reinforcer)
punishments given to decrease a behaviour
what is interactive punishment
the pet associates unpleasant stimuli with pet owner
ex) owner hits/yells at the pet
what is remote punishment
no association between punishment stimuli and owner
ex) electric fence
what is extinction
condition stimulus is repeated without a followed involuntary response; association between the conditioned and unconditioned stimulus is lost
what is systemic desensitization
gradually increasing levels of anxiety provoking stimuli- can be used to modify adverse classical conditioning
ex) gun muffled by cardboard box
what is counterconditioning
uses classical conditioning to evoke new responses to stimuli that are triggering unwanted behaviours
what are non-normal behavioural problems in animals
- have no adaptive or functional value for the animal
- repetitive, compulsive, stereotypic
ex) pacing of zoo animals
what are stereotypies behaviour
coping mechanism for something causing the animal anxiety
they are a manifestation of environmental stress, boredom, isolation, overcrowding
what is a problem with medication assisted desensitization and counterconditioning
it can lead to addiction/withdrawal of the the drug
what makes compulsions pathological
if they get in the way of ‘normal’ living
what is stereotypic behaviour in pets
repetitive behaviour
what is compulsive behaviour in pets
internal drive to perform behaviours with no innate function
dog example:
fly catching, spinning, chasing tail
what is Acral Lick Dermatitis
a compulsive behaviour commonly found in retrievers that is detrimental to its health
-dog excessively licks its lower limb
what are two compulsive behaviours in cats
- Wool chewing and Wool ingestion
2. Excessive grooming
what is pica
ingestion of raw material that has no nutritional value or benefit to the animal
what is psychogenic alopecia
compulsive behaviour in cats that causes excessive grooming in one area
