Learning and Behaviour Modification

Question 1

what are the 3 disciplines of clinical behaviour in animals

Answer 1

1. Ethology based: adaption of behaviour in natural conditions
2. Physiological basis: behaviour influenced by physiological process. Secondary to disease
3. Learning based: behaviour modification directed at rewarding ‘good’ and punishing ‘bad’ behaviour

Question 2

what is the Illness model and what is the problem with is

Answer 2

-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

Question 3

define behavioural modification and its 2 principles

Answer 3

intentional or structural use of conditioning or learning procedures to modify behaviour

1. reward good behaviour
2. disincentive of improper behaviour

Question 4

what is positive reinforcement

Answer 4

good behaviour receives good stimulus

ex.) giving treat for good behaviour

Question 5

What is positive punishment

Answer 5

bad behaviour receives bad stimulus

ex) using a shock collar when animal misbehaves

Question 6

what is negative reinforcement

Answer 6

good behaviour prevents bad stimulus

ex) if animal behaves well don’t use shock collar (take away)

Question 7

what is negative punishment

Answer 7

bad behaviour prevent good stimulus (take away good stimulus)

ex) don’t give a treat if animal is acting bad

Question 8

what is habituation

Answer 8

repeating stimuli until the stimuli no longer induces unwanted behaviours

Question 9

what is flooding

Answer 9

providing stimuli at full amount in order to desensitize the animal to it

Question 10

what is systematic desensitization

Answer 10

gradual habituation

a type of exposure therapy that associates a pleasant relaxed state with gradually increasing anxiety provoking stimuli

Question 11

what is classical conditioning

Answer 11

learning how to associate an automatic behaviour with a stimulus

Question 12

what is an unconditioned and conditioned stimulus

Answer 12

unconditioned: naturally causes a response
conditioned: does not naturally cause a response

Question 13

what are adverse responses

Answer 13

the ‘innate state’ of the dog associated with an unpleasant event

ex) dog associated the vet with pain

Question 14

what is operant conditioning

Answer 14

specific consequences are associated with a voluntary behaviour

rewards introduced to increase a behaviour (reinforcer)
punishments given to decrease a behaviour

Question 15

what is interactive punishment

Answer 15

the pet associates unpleasant stimuli with pet owner

ex) owner hits/yells at the pet

Question 16

what is remote punishment

Answer 16

no association between punishment stimuli and owner

ex) electric fence

Question 17

what is extinction

Answer 17

condition stimulus is repeated without a followed involuntary response; association between the conditioned and unconditioned stimulus is lost

Question 18

what is systemic desensitization

Answer 18

gradually increasing levels of anxiety provoking stimuli- can be used to modify adverse classical conditioning

ex) gun muffled by cardboard box

Question 19

what is counterconditioning

Answer 19

uses classical conditioning to evoke new responses to stimuli that are triggering unwanted behaviours

Question 20

what are non-normal behavioural problems in animals

Answer 20

• have no adaptive or functional value for the animal
• repetitive, compulsive, stereotypic

ex) pacing of zoo animals

Question 21

what are stereotypies behaviour

Answer 21

coping mechanism for something causing the animal anxiety

they are a manifestation of environmental stress, boredom, isolation, overcrowding

Question 22

what is a problem with medication assisted desensitization and counterconditioning

Answer 22

it can lead to addiction/withdrawal of the the drug

Question 23

what makes compulsions pathological

Answer 23

if they get in the way of ‘normal’ living

Question 24

what is stereotypic behaviour in pets

Answer 24

repetitive behaviour

Question 25

what is compulsive behaviour in pets

Answer 25

internal drive to perform behaviours with no innate function

dog example:
fly catching, spinning, chasing tail

Question 26

what is Acral Lick Dermatitis

Answer 26

a compulsive behaviour commonly found in retrievers that is detrimental to its health
-dog excessively licks its lower limb

Question 27

what are two compulsive behaviours in cats

Answer 27

1. Wool chewing and Wool ingestion

2. Excessive grooming

Question 28

what is pica

Answer 28

ingestion of raw material that has no nutritional value or benefit to the animal

Question 29

what is psychogenic alopecia

Answer 29

compulsive behaviour in cats that causes excessive grooming in one area