2020thth Annual California Annual California Industrial Hygiene CouncilIndustrial Hygiene Council

““Safety in the Zoological Safety in the Zoological Industry”Industry”

San Diego Zoo GlobalSan Diego Zoo GlobalGary Priest, 2010 ©Gary Priest, 2010 ©

Animal Learning - Animal Learning - ObjectivesObjectives

To understand basic principles of To understand basic principles of animal traininganimal training

METHODSMETHODS To give you a tool box and several To give you a tool box and several

valuable tools with different names valuable tools with different names and usesand uses

To create an understanding of To create an understanding of several different techniques to several different techniques to accomplish thisaccomplish this

Animal BehaviorAnimal Behavior

What is behavior?What is behavior?

Why is behavior important?Why is behavior important?

Understanding behavior and how to Understanding behavior and how to arrange the consequences arrange the consequences (or)(or) How How keepers can make the principles of keepers can make the principles of behavior work to their advantage.behavior work to their advantage.

Behavior modification has Behavior modification has recently become an important recently become an important

tool in zoos to:tool in zoos to:

Enhance keeper safetyEnhance keeper safety Facilitate routine maintenanceFacilitate routine maintenance Facilitate veterinary careFacilitate veterinary care Encourage cooperation in researchEncourage cooperation in research Provide for shows and presentationsProvide for shows and presentations Better provide for the animal’s Better provide for the animal’s

psychological well-beingpsychological well-being

The Core of Behavior: The Core of Behavior: FORMFORM && FREQUENCYFREQUENCY

At its root, all behaviors can be At its root, all behaviors can be broken down into two basic broken down into two basic categories: categories:

#1. What it looks like #1. What it looks like (The behavior’s (The behavior’s formform or topography) or topography)

#2. How often it is performed #2. How often it is performed (The (The frequencyfrequency))

Consequences change behavior!Consequences change behavior!

The The AA,,BB,,CCs of Animal s of Animal TrainingTraining

The The AAntecedent – the stimului that ntecedent – the stimului that triggers the behaviortriggers the behavior

The The BBehavior – what does it look ehavior – what does it look like? The topography or form & like? The topography or form & frequencyfrequency

The The CConsequence – reinforcement onsequence – reinforcement either positive or negativeeither positive or negative

CONDITIONINGCONDITIONING In order to change behavior, trainers In order to change behavior, trainers

predict, modify, and control the predict, modify, and control the environment.environment.

Simply put, conditioning is a change in Simply put, conditioning is a change in the form and frequency of a behavior the form and frequency of a behavior due to the influence of reinforcers or due to the influence of reinforcers or punishers in the environment.punishers in the environment.

In nature, animals are being conditioned In nature, animals are being conditioned all the time. The same rules of learning all the time. The same rules of learning apply regardless of the setting. apply regardless of the setting.

REINFORCEMENTREINFORCEMENT

The strengthening of something by The strengthening of something by adding to it. adding to it.

Anything that strengthens the Anything that strengthens the stimulus/response connection.stimulus/response connection.

Generally, anything that Generally, anything that strengthens learning.strengthens learning.

Behavior is largely Behavior is largely determined by its determined by its

consequenceconsequence..

There are three possible There are three possible consequences to a given behavior:consequences to a given behavior:

– Positive (+)Positive (+)– Negative (-)Negative (-)– Neutral Neutral

ConsequencesConsequences

PositivePositive consequences tend to consequences tend to increase increase the frequency of the the frequency of the behavior they follow.behavior they follow.

NegativeNegative consequences tend to consequences tend to decreasedecrease the frequency of the the frequency of the behavior they follow.behavior they follow.

Behavioral Consequences & Behavioral Consequences & Problem SolvingProblem Solving

Trainers usually want to do one of Trainers usually want to do one of two things: They want to increase two things: They want to increase desirable behaviors or they want to desirable behaviors or they want to decrease undesirable behaviors. decrease undesirable behaviors.

Because behavior is largely Because behavior is largely determined by its consequences, determined by its consequences, controlling these consequences is controlling these consequences is thethe key to controlling almost all key to controlling almost all behavior.behavior.

What would be the behavioral What would be the behavioral consequence of ignoring these consequence of ignoring these

stimuli?stimuli?

Primary ReinforcerPrimary Reinforcer or or Unconditioned ReinforcerUnconditioned Reinforcer

Anything of intrinsic value to an Anything of intrinsic value to an organism; examples are biological organism; examples are biological needs for food, water, sex, and needs for food, water, sex, and social needs.social needs.

Conditioned ReinforcerConditioned Reinforcer or orSecondary ReinforcerSecondary Reinforcer

A conditioned reinforcer is a A conditioned reinforcer is a previously neutral stimulus with no previously neutral stimulus with no rewarding properties. It becomes rewarding properties. It becomes reinforcing because of its reinforcing because of its association with a primary association with a primary reinforcer; it derives its meaning reinforcer; it derives its meaning as a result of its association with as a result of its association with basic unconditioned reinforcers.basic unconditioned reinforcers.

MoneyMoney is an example of a is an example of a conditioned reinforcerconditioned reinforcer

$ MONEY $$ MONEY $

On it’s own, money has no On it’s own, money has no particular intrinsic value. You can’t particular intrinsic value. You can’t eat it or wear it.eat it or wear it.

It does have value through it’s It does have value through it’s association with just about every association with just about every imaginable primary reinforcer.imaginable primary reinforcer.

It is a secondary reinforcer. It is a secondary reinforcer.

MotivationMotivation / Satiation / Satiation

MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION - The force that - The force that regulates behavior because of regulates behavior because of drives, needs, or desires and is drives, needs, or desires and is directed towards goals that will directed towards goals that will satisfy the need. satisfy the need.

An organism’s behaviors are partly An organism’s behaviors are partly determined by its own internal state.determined by its own internal state.

The internal state of the carnivore The internal state of the carnivore causes it to engage in hunting causes it to engage in hunting

behaviors.behaviors.

Motivation / Motivation / SatiationSatiation

SATIATIONSATIATION - This has occurred - This has occurred when a normally positive stimulus when a normally positive stimulus is repeatedly offered until it loses is repeatedly offered until it loses its reinforcing propertiesits reinforcing properties

After making a kill, a big cat may sleep up After making a kill, a big cat may sleep up to 20 hours a day. It’s motivation has to 20 hours a day. It’s motivation has

changed.changed.

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENTPOSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

The primary tool used in progressive The primary tool used in progressive animal training. animal training.

Positive reinforcement is anything Positive reinforcement is anything that the animal wants. that the animal wants.

Reinforcement is relative. Reinforcement is relative. (Rain can (Rain can be a positive reinforcement to a duck be a positive reinforcement to a duck and an aversive stimulus to a cat).and an aversive stimulus to a cat).

Know your animal!Know your animal!

What is an aversive What is an aversive stimulus?stimulus?

An aversive is something that a An aversive is something that a subject wants to avoid. It is subject wants to avoid. It is noxious, painful, or otherwise noxious, painful, or otherwise unpleasant.unpleasant.

NEGATIVE NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENTREINFORCEMENT

As we consider this topic, it is As we consider this topic, it is important to realize that the term important to realize that the term “negative reinforcement” does not “negative reinforcement” does not apply to the “quality” of the apply to the “quality” of the consequence.consequence.

Here is why...Here is why...

Escape Feels Good!Escape Feels Good!

Negative reinforcement is what Negative reinforcement is what happens the happens the instantinstant an aversive an aversive stimulus is stimulus is terminatedterminated as a result as a result of a behavior.of a behavior.

When a negative reinforcement is When a negative reinforcement is used properly, an used properly, an escape responseescape response is reinforced.is reinforced.

Negative Reinforcement at work in Negative Reinforcement at work in the wild where the predator is the the wild where the predator is the

aversive event. aversive event. Escape feels good!Escape feels good!

RELATIONSHIP & RELATIONSHIP & ATTITUDEATTITUDE

Progressive trainers work to develop Progressive trainers work to develop relationships with their animals.relationships with their animals.

They see the animal’s They see the animal’s good attitudegood attitude as aas a behaviorbehavior that should be that should be reinforced.reinforced.

The use of (The use of (+ R+ R) promotes these ) promotes these principles while the use of aversives principles while the use of aversives does not.does not.

Some common examples Some common examples where (where (-- RR) has been used. ) has been used.

Using a water jet to move a primate Using a water jet to move a primate from one space into another. from one space into another.

Netting a dolphin through a gate.Netting a dolphin through a gate. Using a bit to train a horse to turn Using a bit to train a horse to turn

right or left.right or left. Using a choke collar to train a dog Using a choke collar to train a dog

to heel.to heel.

The The Bridging StimulusBridging Stimulus is a is a Conditioned ReinforcerConditioned Reinforcer

It is created by association with a It is created by association with a primary reinforcer. It can be a primary reinforcer. It can be a touch, a word, or some other touch, a word, or some other distinct sound. distinct sound.

The bridging stimulus “bridges” The bridging stimulus “bridges” both time and distance. both time and distance.

Some examples of Some examples of different kinds of bridging different kinds of bridging

stimuli.stimuli.

SHAPINGSHAPING

Shaping is possible because the Shaping is possible because the behavior of living things, from behavior of living things, from amoebas to whales, is variable.amoebas to whales, is variable.

A significant chunk of an animal’s A significant chunk of an animal’s behavioral repertoire is plastic and behavioral repertoire is plastic and through reinforcements can be through reinforcements can be molded.molded.

SUCCESSIVE SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATIONSAPPROXIMATIONS

A stair-step process where A stair-step process where behavior is shaped to approach a behavior is shaped to approach a desired form by selectively desired form by selectively reinforcing those behaviors which reinforcing those behaviors which lead towards the desired form. lead towards the desired form.