Shaping Cows' Approach to Humans Using Positive and Negative Reinforcement

Negative reinforcement can be a powerful tool for behavior analysts, yet it is often overlooked as a treatment method. Pryor (1999) outlines a method for approaching a "timid" animal using a combination of negative reinforcement and positive reinforcement. When the animal stands still, the human operates a clicker, and then retreats from the animal. Gradually, the human moves closer to the animal through the clicking and retreating shaping process. Once the human is standing close enough, food may be offered as a positive reinforcer, and the negative reinforcer is canceled out. The purpose of this study was to experimentally demonstrate the click-retreat technique with cows. A multiple-baseline design across subjects was used to test this technique. Results show that the click and retreat technique was effective. Results are discussed in terms of the difference between the click-retreat technique and systematic desensitization.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2005

Author dc:creator

• Morehead, Melissa L.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Rosales Ruíz, Jesús
• Hyten, Cloyd
• Ellis, Janet

• Reinforcement (Psychology)
• Conditioned response.
• Human-animal communication.
• Cows.
• negative reinforcement
• positive reinforcement
• systematic desensitization
• behavior analysis
• in vivo desensitization

Statement dc:rights

• Public
• Copyright
• Morehead, Melissa L.
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 62144996
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4730/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc4730

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc4730