Midterm Prep Flashcards
Define animal training.
Training is a tool for changing behavior. Increasing the occurrence of desired behaviors and decreasing the occurence of undesired behaviors
Discuss three reasons why we train animals under human care
- Husbandry
- Entertainment
- Service
- Domesticated animals work for us and/or bring us entertainment/joy
Why was Pavlov and how does he relate to animal training
Russian scientist who lived from the late 1800s to early 1900s. He demonstrated a conditioned reflex. Dogs salivated at the sound of a bell after associated with food. Classical conditioning.
Define superstitious behavior. What is most likely to cause superstitious behavior to occur? Provide an example
Failing to bridge correctly can result in the animal developing unique behaviors different than that of the one you are asking for. Poor timing is most likely to cause superstitious behavior to occur.
Example: Skinner’s Superstition Experiment. Reinforced pigeons in a box every 15 seconds regardless of behavior. 6 out of 8 birds developed unique behavior they would repeatedly do.
Training can be kept fun for the animal by never allowing a training session to
Go on too long
Get repetitive/boring
When writing a training record, you should include what information
Date and time of the training session
Location of training session
Who participated/was present in the training session
Is punishment or reinforcement more affective
Reinforcement. Learning is faster, has better latency, and better retention with reinforcement. For punishment to be comparably effective, significant physical harm must occur
What is reinforcement
Adds something desirable to the environment to make the behavior more likely to occur
Or takes away something aversive to make the behavior more likely to occur
Reward for performing correct behavior
What is the bridge
The bridge is a conditioned reinforcer. It tells the animal the exact moment they have done a desired behavior
Two types of animal training
Classical and Operant
What is classical conditioning/Pavlovian conditioning
reflex training
Unconditioned stimulus and response is associated to conditioned stimulus and response
What is reinforcement
Something which increases the occurence of a behavior
What is punishment
Something which decreases the occurence of a behavior
Positive
Something which is given to (aka added) to the animal
Negative
Something which is taken away (aka subtracted) from the animal
Primary reinforcement
A biological need that must be reinforcing to the animal. Basics needed for survival: food, water
This is good for the animal regardless of experience
Conditioned reinforcer
Another reinforcement that has been paired with the primary reinforcement
Learned as good to the animal based on experience with it.
Secondary reinforcer
Some argue same as conditioned reinforcer, some argue inherently valuable to the animal.
Examples: sunning, grooming, enrichment
What factors influence the value of a reinforcement
Individual preference
Motivation
Frequency of use
Etc
True or False: Every interaction with an animal can be reinforcing or punishing
True
True or False: Every interaction with an animal matters
True
How do you make a bridge
Pair a conditioned stimuli with an unconditioned stimuli. Conditioned stimulus should be reinforcing and highly relevant to the animal (primary)
What can be a bridge
Anything the animal can perceive
Ex: clicker, whistle, verbal (good), hand movements, lights, etc
How much time to you have between presenting the unconditioned stimulus and conditioned stimulus to develop learned association? (When making a bridge)
Immediately, but up to 7 seconds.
