I have in the past three years become increasingly fascinated by the study and application of learning theory to relationships with other animals. Here is where I am at in my thinking right now. I think of behaviour science and learning theory as any other - I liken it to the laws of physics. Arrived at using the scientific method. The laws of behaviour explain what is observable in the real world (of any home, office, night club, play pen, dog training class, jungle, forest, ocean, country park or livery yard!). It describes how all organisms learn - including humans. It covers learning by associations (classical conditioning), by consequences (operant conditioning), how animals habituate to stimuli / events for which there is no consequence (bad or good) (non-associative learning), how we all learn to escape or avoid aversives (noxious / painful stimuli or events) - escape and avoidance learning, how animals learn by observing members of their own species or a very closely related species (social / observational learning). Not to mention insight learning shown by some species. That is the basics of learning theory. This is at play in interactions with any other animal whether we know what it is or not. Apples fall down from the sky the way apples fall from the sky regardless of whether we understand the laws of physics. The key to great engineering though IS to understand the laws of physics (for one thing). If you want to build a safe reliable bridge then knowing the laws of physics would be pretty essential. I see us as animal owners as people who are engineers of their learning. I think it really helps to build bridges with animals that are based on the laws of behaviour, so that we have safe and healthy relationships. Since studying with advanced animal trainers - people who understand the laws of behaviour, can build a relationship and teach anything to any animal - recommended by a natural horseman no less - a whole new world of choice has opened up to me. The choices I can make go far beyond the limitations of what any given member of an animal species can do to teach or influence the actions of another of his own kind. What I notice is that many people have unhappy associations with the idea of science. Perhaps due to experiences in school. But It really isnt any harder to learn than mastering the language of anything else that has been put before us. 7 games, 6 (7) keys to success, 4 responsibilities, 10 qualities, 8 principles. I know people who can recite those by heart, forwards backwards, left, right up and down. There are 4 consequences, 10 laws of habituation, 6 ways to form behaviour so we can reinforce it. There are 2 ends (and a middle) to the motivation continuum. Willingness to learn something new - when you already have language - is 100% about motivation. Motivation trumps everything else. With us as with other animals.
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 07:01:57 +0000
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