CATA NCE flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Classical conditioning
- A learning process in which a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus until the neutral stimulus alone elicits a conditioned response.
- Operant conditioning
- Learning in which the consequences of a behavior change the probability that the behavior will occur again; reinforcement increases and punishment decreases it.
- Negative reinforcement
- A procedure in which a behavior increases in frequency because it removes or prevents an aversive stimulus, such as releasing pressure when a horse yields.
- Variable ratio schedule
- A reinforcement schedule in which a response is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses; it produces high, steady response rates and strong resistance to extinction.
- Spontaneous recovery
- The reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a period of rest without further conditioning trials.
- Stimulus generalization
- The tendency for a conditioned response to occur in the presence of stimuli that are similar to, but not identical with, the original conditioned stimulus.
- Shaping
- A training procedure that builds a new behavior by reinforcing successive approximations toward the target, raising the criterion as each step becomes reliable.
- Backward chaining
- A method of teaching a behavior sequence by training the final link first, then adding preceding links in reverse order until the full chain is performed.
- Discriminative stimulus
- A stimulus that signals the availability of reinforcement for a specific response, increasing the likelihood of that response when present.
- Counterconditioning
- A procedure that pairs a feared stimulus with an appetitive stimulus to replace a negative emotional response with a positive one.
- Desensitization
- Gradual exposure to a feared stimulus at an intensity below the threshold for fear, with intensity increased slowly as the animal remains calm.
- Premack principle
- The principle that a high-probability behavior, such as play, can serve as a reinforcer for a lower-probability behavior, such as sitting.
- Sensitive period
- A developmental window during which specific experiences strongly shape later behavior; the dog socialization window is roughly three to sixteen weeks of age.
- Ethogram
- A catalog of species-typical behaviors with operational definitions, used as a baseline to assess whether an animal's behavioral repertoire is normal.
- Fixed action pattern
- An innate, stereotyped behavior sequence triggered by a sign or releaser stimulus that typically runs to completion once initiated.
- Stereotypy
- A repetitive, invariant behavior such as pacing or cribbing that often indicates an inadequate environment or chronic stress and has no obvious function.
- Neoteny
- The retention of juvenile traits into adulthood; in domestic dogs this contributes to playfulness, dependency, and trainability compared with wild canids.
- Functional assessment
- A process of identifying the antecedents and consequences that maintain a behavior, typically classifying function as attention, escape, access, or automatic reinforcement.
- ABC model
- A framework that records the antecedent, behavior, and consequence of an event to identify triggers and maintaining consequences for a problem behavior.
- Baseline data
- Measurements of a behavior's frequency, duration, or intensity collected before intervention so that change can be evaluated objectively.
- Replacement behavior
- An acceptable behavior taught to serve the same function as a problem behavior, such as settling for attention instead of jumping.
- Medical rule-out
- The process of veterinary evaluation to exclude medical causes before a behavior problem is attributed to learning or environment.
- Five Freedoms
- A welfare framework covering freedom from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain and disease, fear and distress, and freedom to express normal behavior.
- Five Domains model
- A welfare assessment model covering nutrition, environment, physical health, behavior, and mental state, with the mental state domain integrating the affective experience.
- LIMA principle
- The least intrusive, minimally aversive approach, which starts with the least restrictive effective procedure and escalates only when justified.
- Scope of practice
- The professional boundaries of a practitioner's competence and legal authority, such as referring medical diagnosis and treatment to a licensed veterinarian.
- Three Rs
- The ethical principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement applied to the use of animals in research and training.
- Active listening
- A communication technique using open-ended questions, reflections, and summaries to confirm understanding of the client's concerns and improve adherence to recommendations.
- Stages of change
- A model describing readiness to change as precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance, used to match recommendations to the client's stage.
- Motivational interviewing
- A collaborative communication style using open questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries to elicit the client's own reasons for behavior change.
- Basket muzzle
- A muzzle design that encloses the snout while allowing the dog to pant and drink, making it suitable for longer wear than fabric muzzles.
- Enrichment categories
- Social, occupational, physical, sensory, and nutritional provisions that give animals outlets for natural behavior and reduce stress-related problems.