Introduction to Animal Behaviour II

Introduction to Animal Behaviour II

• Course offered at the University of Alberta
• Date of course: December 4, 2024

Today's Objectives

• Defining and describing three approaches to analyzing animal behavior
• Understanding fundamental principles of animal learning
• Discussing and assessing animal behavior in an exam context

Ways to Analyze and Address Behavior

• Applied behavior analysis (ABA) assumes all behaviors involve a trigger and consequences.
• Antecedent arrangement involves modifying the environment or triggering event to change the behavior.
  • Small or large changes may be needed.
  • Problems arise when antecedent changes aren't possible.
• Changing the behavior, use alternative behaviors, actively cue alternative behaviours, and ensure problematic behaviors aren't practised.
• Changing the consequence includes preventing/removing reinforcement for problematic behaviors and ensuring reinforcement of alternative behaviours.
• ABA's effectiveness depends on skilled application and accurate assessment of antecedents, behaviors and consequences.

Behavioral Medicine Approach

• Considers abnormal or problematic behavior as a result of a disease or disorder.
• Treatments might involve medication for issues related to neurotransmitter dysfunction.
• Examples include hyperarousal, anxiety, fear, and phobias in dogs.

Psychobiological Approach

• A modern scientific framework that considers all aspects of animal functioning, including physiological and psychological factors.

• Animal behaviors have a function, not necessarily tied to rewards or punishments.

• Needs, survival and evolutionary goals are crucial factors.

• Biological factors (health) impact behavior and learning.

• Animals experience emotions affecting observable behaviors.

• Requires detailed history taking and assessment.

• Underpinning emotions should be considered.

• Physiological and psychological factors contributing to behavior must be integrated.

What Emotions do Animals Feel

• Panksepp's seven primary affective systems (seeking, fear, rage, lust, care, panic/grief, play) describe animal feelings.
• Learning varies depending on emotional state.

How Emotions Influence Behavior

• Animals seek positive states and avoid negative ones (basis of five domains and behavior/learning help).
• Failure to do so can correlate with depression (through trauma, socialization and punishment).
• Negative cognitive bias (predicting poor outcomes) influences resilience to stressors.
• Emotions are motivators for behaviors, and animal actions reveal inner emotional states.
• Feelings like frustration, impulsivity, fear, anxiety, and aggression can influence behaviors.
• Positive emotions drive behaviors; list examples.

Animals can Display Emotionally Driven Behavior

• Animals can demonstrate emotional behaviors even without external "scary" or "bad" occurrences.

The Brain Tries to See the Future

• Brains are designed to protect and ensure survival.
• The brain uses multiple sources of information from past and present to anticipate future scenarios, even if not personally experienced.
• All an animal's life experiences are vital for future predictions.

Basics of How Animals Learn

• Desensitization and Habituation: -Desensitization involves gradually increasing exposure to stimuli to avoid negative responses at an appropriate pace. -Habituation involves exposing the animal to triggers until they no longer respond (careful to not cause unnecessary stress).

• Classical Conditioning: Associating an involuntary response with a stimulus. Examples include positive (treats) or negative (needle) associations with vets. Classical conditioning is ongoing.

• Operant Conditioning: Associating a voluntary behavior with a consequence.

  • Reinforcement: Increasing behavior via positive (adding a pleasant stimulus) or negative (removing an aversive stimulus) consequences.
  • Punishment: Decreasing behavior via positive (adding an aversive stimulus) or negative (removing a pleasant stimulus) consequences.

How Do We Address Behavior in Practice?

• Ask Questions: Consider life history, avoiding lengthy forms, focusing on broad open-ended questions and avoiding bias. Focus on goals, needs, and limitations.
• Observe Behavior: Notice the behaviours of different species (e.g. prey vs cats) to identify what is essential to observe. Observe proximity and comfort with humans, and identify problematic behaviours and their triggers (e.g., exploratory).

Application of Learning Theory/Behavioral Approaches to Exams

• Allow Habituation: An animal facing a clinic will show heightened sensitivity for a time.
• Consider Environmental Factors: Environmental influences should be considered as well as potential need for medications when necessary.
• Allow Exploration: All animals need the opportunity to explore.
• Counterconditioning and Shaping: These, when done skillfully, effectively change behavior.
• Consider Animal Emotions: Account for the animal's emotional state.
• Excellent Timing: Reward behaviors/procedures after they are performed.
• Use Animal Preferences: Use stimuli and rewards preferred by the animal.
• Avoid Force: Physical force should not be used.

This quiz covers the key concepts of animal behavior analysis as discussed in the course at the University of Alberta. It focuses on defining three approaches, understanding animal learning principles, and discussing methods to analyze behavior in various contexts. Prepare to assess and apply these principles in an examination setting.