Training Methods & Positive Reinforcement Flashcards

In operant conditioning, which quadrant involves adding something pleasant to increase a behavior?

Answer: Positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement adds a desirable stimulus (e.g., a treat) immediately after a behavior to increase the likelihood of that behavior recurring.

What does 'clicker training' rely on to mark desired behaviors in pets?

Answer: A conditioned reinforcer (click sound) paired with a primary reward to mark the exact moment of correct behavior

The click acts as a precise bridge signal that tells the animal the exact behavior that earned the reward, making it faster and clearer than verbal praise alone.

Which reinforcement schedule produces the most persistent (extinction-resistant) behavior?

Answer: Variable ratio schedule

Variable ratio schedules (unpredictable reward frequency) create highly persistent behavior because the animal cannot predict when the reward will come.

What is 'luring' in pet training?

Answer: Using a food or toy reward to guide the pet into a desired position or behavior

Luring uses a reward to physically guide the pet's body into the target position, then rewards the completed behavior.

What is 'shaping' in animal training?

Answer: Reinforcing successive approximations toward a final target behavior

Shaping rewards incremental steps toward a goal behavior, gradually raising the criteria until the full behavior is achieved.

According to modern behavioral science, punishment-based training methods carry which primary risk?

Answer: They can increase fear, anxiety, and aggression while damaging the human-animal bond

Research consistently shows aversive training increases stress hormones, suppresses behavior through fear, and can create or worsen aggression.