Page 40 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

12 1 Learning Theory

VetBooks.ir a behaviour cannot be rewarded and thus conditioning; reinforcement and punish­
ment; extinction and shaping, as well as the
increased unless it first occurs. Although not
all behaviour can be trained by using shaping
cepts will be important as you move forward
(e.g. a sit behaviour), it still plays an impor­ schedules of reinforcement. All of these con­
tant role in animal training. Shaping provides through this book.
animal trainers with guidance and direction Another thing you might have noticed in
in training new behaviours. this chapter is that there was a focus on indi­
vidual learning. This is because historically
investigators have focused on the individual
1.5 Conclusion and this tradition carries into the current
research in the area of behavioural science.
In this chapter we discussed learning theory This too is an important concept for those
which is at the heart of animal training. To be training animals. Professionals know that
a great trainer you will need to understand one size does not fit all and that training
the basics so that you can apply these basics programmes need to be individualised even
outside of a laboratory or operant condition­ when working with groups of animals. I hope
ing chamber. Learning theories emphasise the that you keep this in mind as you continue to
role of external events in changing observa­ read the rest of this book.
ble behaviour, so you too should focus on The remainder of the book will not focus
the antecedents and the consequences of the on definitions, but instead will focus on the
behaviour you observe. In addition to cor­ applications of these theories in both captivity
rectly labelling the antecedents and conse­ and in nature giving you tons of examples to
quences related to the behaviour you help you learn exactly how these learning
observe, I hope, after you read this chapter, theories are relevant to those working in
that you will also have a better idea on the zoos/aquariums. We will discuss more
differences between operant and classical applied aspects of these terms in Chapter 4.

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