THE RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF STRESSFUL AND REWARDING CHARACTERISTICS OF PRIMARY AND SOCIAL REINFORCERS IN THE CONTROL OF CANINE BEHAVIOR
Abstract
The three questions quoted from the proposal in the introduction of this report dealt with the maintenance of long chains of behavior, and the possible effects of early experience, and the possible opportunity for selective breeding. The early experience variable as explored in these data has shown no significant differences between animals who begin training at the earliest age of weaning and animals whose training begins some weeks or months later. The answer to the selective breeding problem is not entirely clear from the few generations of animals that have been accomplished in this year's work. One somewhat tenuous indication from the data is that careful selection of mates on the basis of behavioral criterion may allow the elimination of the poorest performing dogs. The evidence compiled with regard to the predictability of punishment in such a training program as has been carried out in the laboratory is overwhelmingly consistent in its indication. All of the evidence and activities of this laboratory tend to indicate that the most efficient direction for the animal training program is toward the exploration of the most effective reinforcer in the most effective setting with the least and most predictable punishment that can be engineered for the training procedure.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0823920
Entities
People
- Roger W. Mcintire
Organizations
- University of Maryland