Page 82 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

54 4 Choosing the Right Method: Reinforcement vs Punishment

The basic explanation of reinforcement
VetBooks.ir and punishment is relatively straightfor- Punishers also can be unconditioned or
conditioned. Unconditioned punishers can
ward: most zoo professionals who train do
that decreases behaviour. There are also many
not have difficulty understanding the con- be anything the animal perceives as aversive
cepts as described above. When faced with things in an animal’s world that may not be
the many types of reinforcers and punishers, initially aversive but the animal learns to dis-
however, even an experienced trainer can like them, for example, a crack of a tree limb
get confused and feel uncertain about how indicating the approach of a predator and cer-
to apply them. tain people who are aversive, all of which
Consequences can be either unconditioned would be considered conditioned punishers.
or conditioned. Unconditioned reinforcers Primary reinforcers and punishers are gener-
include food, water, social interactions, and ally considered more effective when training
anything that serves a biological need. These behaviour because no previous learning his-
types of reinforcers are often referred to as tory is needed to make them effective (Chance
primary reinforcers. But animals can learn to 2009; Kazdin 2001; Pierce and Cheney 2008).
accept other things including a clicker, a However, when used properly, both condi-
whistle, or a word like ‘good’ as reinforcers. If tioned reinforcers and conditioned punishers
the trainer pairs those sounds with food on a can be effective and useful in training behav-
regular basis, they may become conditioned iour (Chance 2009; Ramirez 2010; Pryor and
reinforcers, also referred to as secondary Ramirez 2014; see Figure 4.1).
reinforcers. When trainers work closely with
animals, other conditioned reinforcers may
be established; animals may learn to appreci- 4.3 Choices, Choices, Choices
ate a rub down or the opportunity to play
with a toy as these are also referred to as Most behaviours can be trained using any of the
conditioned reinforcers that can be used consequence options outlined in the scientific
to increase the frequency of behaviour. literature (see Chapter 1). It is precisely because

Figure 4.1 In this example of a zoo animal training programme, the bear has been reinforced when a keeper
touches a part of its body; this type of behaviour facilitates different husbandry goals including health
cheques. Source: Steve Martin.