Wayne,

If you have any interest in behavioral science or any of the nity gritty aspects of the field, I might be able to answer a question or two.

I'm a certified behavior analyst....am practicing BF Skinner (radical behaviorism) on a daily basis. It's also my primary point of interest.

A few months ago, I put out a request to start conversations on this topic, but had no takers.

Good luck in finding a book that suits you!
Kelton

Kelton,
Are you a human or animal behaviorist?

I'm guessing that none of us commented on your previous post ( I went back and looked it ) because as dog trainers, we run into so many self awarded "behaviorist" titles that many of us have grown leery of the folks that present themselves as such.
In my area, *every* "animal behaviorist" does far more harm than good when they're on a case ( and being paid waaay too much money, in my opinion ) and I'm seeing less and less vets that will refer people to a behaviorist.
And of course it may be that as trainers, we just don't run into many good behaviorists - I'm sure they're out there ( hopefully, you're one of them! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )

This would be a good chance to educate us about just what a behaviorist does ( provided you're an animal behaviorist, of course ) and how they can benefit a dog and it's owner.

Hi All,
I never did read Karen Pryor's book but I am a big fan of operant conditioning even before Karen Pryor became popular with the clicker. The clicker is only a device and you can use almost anything to mark the behavior. If I was to define clicker training I would say dogs will continue doing a particular behavior/command if they receive a good/positive reward and compulsion training I would describe that dogs would discontinue a behavior/command if they have a negative response. It is really very simple but if you aren't experienced in this sort of training you can do more harm than good. My current SAR dog has responded very well to operant conditioning but on the flip side I have also used compulsion when necessary. Good luck but definitely watch or get help from somebody who is experienced in this method,,books just don't give the full picture.

I'm a certified behavior analyst (CBA)...this requires graduate level study in the field along with an internship and the passing of a certification exam. I work primarily with humans due to the greater financial rewards, but also do side work with animals.

A behaviorist studies the relationship between environmental variables and the behavior of organisms. Humans are considered a member of the animal kingdom, so no matter what species it is....I'm an animal behaviorist in the strictest sense. Humans have complexities which appear mainly due to their verbal behavior, but the pinciples of behavior are exactly the same. Just like the principles of physics are the same on Earth as they are on Mars. Yes, the planets are different, but they are subject to the same principles of physics.

quote: "In my area, *every* "animal behaviorist" does far more harm than good"

I'm sure that is possible. I have met certified behaviorist who are suprisingly incompetent. However,these people are pretty obvious. These are the types who study a subject so that they can get the diploma...or so that they can get the certification, and do the bare minimum to get it. After getting it, they don't keep up...and don't care to....and forget most of the stuff anyway. The same can be said for engineers, teachers, and doctors.


quote: " we just don't run into many good behaviorists - I'm sure they're out there ( hopefully, you're one of them! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )"

I am confident that the behavioral sciences are on the right track with regard to the study of, well, behavior! We are not psychologists and, in fact, have very little in common with most psychologists or other sorts of therapists. Anyway, whether I am a good behaviorist or not probably can't be proven easily in this forum.

quote: "This would be a good chance to educate us about just what a behaviorist does"

Why not? Generally we are presented with cases involving difficult behavior problems. These individuals have often been through a wide gamut of 'treatments' before the behaviorist gets a call. I have dealt with dogs that attack family members (resource gaurding sorts of stuff), gifted 14 year olds that refuse to complete school assignments, aggressive ghetto kids, ill behaved parrots, and autistic people with very disturbing sorts of problems....and the principles on which I base treatment designs are exactly the same. Obviously, the treatments are designed to make the unwanted behavior go away (and replace that bad behavior with good stuff).

Sometimes, it easier to see what a behaviorist does by discussing a particular behavior problem and starting from there. BTW, it is entirely possible that someone without a formal education in behavioral science can suggest a treatment procedure which is far more effective, practical and elegant than my suggestion....there is no doubt about that! However, no treatment is effective if it doesn't consist of basic behavioral principles. how's that?

Kelton

Kelton

Karen, compulsion is a part of operant conditioning.

Robert,
Yes you are absolutely right but I was trying to simplify things and wanted to separate the positive from the negative because the post was about clicker training. Sorry if I didn't explain things properly. Operant conditioning is just a process of behavior modification with a more likelihood that a behavior would be increased or decreased thru either positive or negative and the positive being the treat etc.being marked with the clicker. When the discussion is about clicker training it is used in a completely postive environment only. Thanks for your comment, hope this helps to clarify what I was trying to say.

Sometimes I hear people say, "I use operant conditioning for some parts of my training". I'm curious as to what is used for those other "non-operant" parts of your training. Is there a word for it?...and what does it consist of?

Respondent (classical) conditioning?

hmm, this is probably another thread

Kelton,
Ahh.... I remember the controversy about the CBA's when they started to gain popularity as treatment alternatives ( I was a PA and my wife is a Psychiatrist, so I'm sure you know on what side on the controversy we stood on )

I visited the Behavior Analyst Certification Board website, it's good to see that you can't become a CBA totally from correspondent courses like ya'll could in the past. That's a step in the right direction.

Are you talking about a certification controversy? I am not aware of the history of this certifcation process, so I can't speak to that...nor do I know about the PA or Psychiatric opinion on the issue!

The behavior analyst certification is only important to me in the sense that it is required in order to be "qualified" to do certain types of work. Some behavior analysts are competent to perform only the most basic of tasks, while others can dazzle and amaze....again, the same goes for all professions.

Most importantly, I am of the belief that the principles outlined in an experimental (or applied) analysis of behavior are the most effective basis on which to approach behavioral issues. Certification or not.