1. Motivation: Staff Training Program

2. MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION Drive State Theory You must know what the animal values in order to excite or motivate themYou must know what the animal values in order to excite or motivate them Drive State TheoryDrive State Theory –Drive is a condition of motivation motivation –Motivation varies between individuals between individuals –Individuals value different things different things

3. MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION Drive State Theory Punisher Reinforcer

4. MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION Motivation Continuum This is a way of quantifying how reinforcing or punishing an object or behavior is at a particular timeThis is a way of quantifying how reinforcing or punishing an object or behavior is at a particular time The behavior or object can move to different places on the scale through conditioning, desensitization, or sensitizationThe behavior or object can move to different places on the scale through conditioning, desensitization, or sensitization PunishingNeutralReinforcing

5. MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION Changing the Value of a Consequence SatiationSatiation –Providing an excessive amount of the reinforcer, and the animal loses interest DeprivationDeprivation –Taking away the availability of reinforcement Saturation PointSaturation Point –The point at which the value of a consequence changes from one side of neutral to the other

6. MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION Types of Punishment Delta: A stimulus that tells the animal they have given an incorrect responseDelta: A stimulus that tells the animal they have given an incorrect response –No opportunity for reinforcement Communicative Delta: A stimulus that tells the animal they have given an incorrect response, and gives them the opportunity to perform the behavior correctlyCommunicative Delta: A stimulus that tells the animal they have given an incorrect response, and gives them the opportunity to perform the behavior correctly –Still an opportunity for reinforcement

7. MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION Punishment Utilized In Interactions Time out (TO): Anything from 5 seconds to 10 minutesTime out (TO): Anything from 5 seconds to 10 minutes Extended time out (ETO): minimum of 10 minutesExtended time out (ETO): minimum of 10 minutes

8. MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION Possible Side Effects of Any Consequence And Examples for Marine Mammals Frustration: The act of blocking, interfering with or disrupting behaviorFrustration: The act of blocking, interfering with or disrupting behavior Escape: The animal leaves the aversive situationEscape: The animal leaves the aversive situation Avoidance: The animal postpones the presentation of the aversive eventAvoidance: The animal postpones the presentation of the aversive event Aggression: Behavior aimed at hurting another individualAggression: Behavior aimed at hurting another individual

9. MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION Increasing Motivation Variable: That which changesVariable: That which changes It is important to be variable in your training to help keep the animal motivated, and so you as a trainer don’t become predictableIt is important to be variable in your training to help keep the animal motivated, and so you as a trainer don’t become predictable “Tricks of the Trade”“Tricks of the Trade” –Differential Reinforcement: Reinforce selectively for a specific aspect of the behavior –Magnitude of Reinforcement: The size, strength, or duration of a reward after a behavior

10. MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION Increasing Motivation “Tricks of the Trade”“Tricks of the Trade” –Lottery: An event whose outcome depends on chance –Context shift: Changing the events and processes that normally occur during training –Multiple session approach: Changing the amount of time spent during a training session

11. MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION Summary To keep an animal motivated know what they find valuable, and provide those things in an effective mannerTo keep an animal motivated know what they find valuable, and provide those things in an effective manner Animals learn through reinforcement and punishmentAnimals learn through reinforcement and punishment Animal handlers must develop their skills in motivating the animals in their care in order to keep their animals focusedAnimal handlers must develop their skills in motivating the animals in their care in order to keep their animals focused