1. Staff Training Program
Desensitization:
Staff Training Program

2. DESENSITIZATION Definition
The process of changing an animal’s perception of a stimulus from positive or negative to neutral or no value
Time governs desensitization
(poor value)
Punishing
SENSITIZED
(neutral)
DESENSITIZED
(good value)
Reinforcing
VALUABLE

3. DESENSITIZATION Notes to Remember
SD’s and reinforcers can be desensitized through repetition
The Novelty Effect can determine the efficiency of desensitization

4. DESENSITIZATION Sensitization
The intensifying of an organism’s response to stimuli with repeated presentations of that stimulus
Sensitization moves the value of a stimulus towards the negative end
(neutral)
DESENSITIZED
(poor value)
Punishing
SENSITIZED
(good value)
Reinforcing
VALUABLE

5. Capability of Desensitization
The Capability of Desensitization depends on three factors
Current Context
Motivational State
Individual History

6. DESENSITIZATION 3 Methods
Habituation (Flooding): Exposure to situations that elicit high levels of anxiety until there is an adaptation to the situation
No food involved
Passive Desensitization: Exposure to a stimulus over time, approximating it closer
Active Desensitization: Exposure to a stimulus over time, combined with primary reinforcement
Food involved

7. DESENSITIZATION Important Note
If you want the animal to be completely desensitized to an object the animal must return to baseline behavior prior to moving forward to the following step

8. DESENSITIZATION Summary
Desensitization is an important factor in any training that we do
Every new stimulus requires some level of desensitization
The more stimuli an animal is desensitized to the quicker they will adapt to new situations; which in turn will decrease stress
This may be a good place to tell a story, discuss, or show (live demo or video) an example of desensitization training.