#repetitivebehavior

Many people think repetitive behavior is stereotypic, but in this example, we see it can be learned. This Sumatran elephant bobs her head in hopes it might earn her food or other desired consequences. To address this, I have the team practice looking for moments when she is not bobbing, and then give her food. She quickly learns this is the new behavior that works. As the trainers reinforce her for standing with her head still more frequently, and add an intermittent schedule of reinforcement, she learns to stand longer and longer with the correct head position. Learn more about addressing repetitive behaviors and the difference between these and stereotypic behaviors in my latest podcast at https://animaltrainingfundamentals.com/podcasts/repetitive-behavior-stop-the-madness/ You can also listen on your favorite podcast outlets. #repetitivebehavior #stereotypy #stereotypies #elephant #sumatranelephant #animaltrainingpodcast https://www.instagram.com/p/B6BUO7ol7Km/?igshid=11csgy0n1q1pj

New podcast episode available! Not all repetitive behavior is stereotypic. Many times it is the result of reinforcement. Determining why an animal is presenting repetitive behavior requires asking our selves a series of questions that can reveal triggers and consequences that maintain the undesired behavior. This can then help us develop a strategy to address the problem. In this podcast I go over these questions as well as define stereotypic behavior and some practices to avoid when dealing with a true stereotypy that can make the problem worse! Click the link below to listen and for a video example and a download discussed in the podcast. Also available on iTunes and other podcast outlets. #repetitivebehavior #stereotypy #stereotypicbehavior https://animaltrainingfundamentals.com/podcasts/repetitive-behavior-stop-the-madness/ https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ziIaklddP/?igshid=1ciamy6g63blh

“Children delight in repetition because whatever the activity is, it becomes a part of their memory and they learn to anticipate the details of the story, film or fingerplay — that’s fun. When they know what’s coming, they’re the master of that activity." I've been curious with the scientific explanation (if any) as to why young children love to do things repeatedly. It may be serving you the same pretend food repeatedly and ask that you pretend eating it and doing this for the next 23 times. Or it could be asking you to read the same book 7 times in one setting. Or doing the same sets of puzzle 3 times in one setting. If you're interested to read more about this, check the #linkInBio. . . . . . . . . . . #repetitivebehavior #children #toddler #preschooler #kindergartener #prek #parentsofinstagram #momsofinstagram #dadsofinstagram #motherhoodthroughinstagram #kidsrepeateverything #savemommy #childrenfeelings #kidslearning #earlychildhood #earlychildhoodeducation #kidslearnfast #enjoyinglearningnewthings #enjoyinglearning #childrensdelight #kidsactivity #repeatmode #childledlearning #moms #dads #momlife #dadlife #bayarea #bayareamoms https://www.instagram.com/p/BsEFDyxFvyZ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1bu6ixdvjtyg9

Repetitive behavior or stereotypy? While repetitive behavior can be stereotypic, not all repetitive behavior IS stereotypic. One of the things I commonly see is repetitive behavior that is reinforced and therefore maintained via reinforcement. It is also often reinforced intermittently. Meaning the animal never knows when reinforcers will be delivered, so it learns to keep doing the behaviors, often for loooooong duration. (Savvy trainers will recognize this is a strategy we intentionally use to train duration behaviors.) If we are not careful we sometimes accidentally train undesired behaviors using this same approach. Think about those animals who learn to pace in front of shift doors as feeding time approaches, or elephants who rock when trainers are nearby, or parrots who vocalize for attention. Nope, those animals aren’t crazy. They are being extremely logical, following the principles of behavior science. What is the solution? Teach another behavior that will work to get the animal what it desires under those conditions prior to the presentation of the undesired behavior. Pacers can learn stationing gets doors to open, parrots can learn words, whistles or soft vocalizations get generous amounts of attention and elephants like this one, can come to understand pretty much anything except head nodding works to earn desired reinforcers. Be a super sleuth about repetitive behavior before labeling it stereotypic and trying to treat it with copious enrichment. The solution may simply be you are inadvertently reinforcing the wrong thing. #stereotypy #repetitivebehavior #elephant #behaviorproblem #stereotypicbehavior https://www.instagram.com/p/BpfY6xsg-_s/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16kajuruw8pym