Georgia Hunter Safety Practice Exam

What should trainers do after three refusals of a conditioned behavior?

1. Change the training environment

2. Terminate the session

3. Increase the rewards

4. Conduct a safety assessment

The correct answer is: Terminate the session

In the context of training animals or individuals, when there are three refusals of a conditioned behavior, it is critical to evaluate the situation and adjust as necessary. Terminating the session is advised because continued attempts when the learner is clearly reluctant can lead to frustration and potential negative associations with the training process. Giving the learner a break allows for a reset, improving the likelihood of success in future sessions. In contrast, changing the training environment, increasing rewards, or conducting a safety assessment may not address the immediate issue of refusal in that moment effectively. Changing the environment could introduce new variables that might complicate the situation even further. Increasing rewards might be beneficial in different contexts but may not resolve the underlying problem of refusal at that point. Similarly, while assessing safety is always important, it may not directly mitigate the immediate challenge presented by the refusals. Thus, taking a step back and terminating the session can provide the necessary time and space to reevaluate and approach the training in a more positive and effective manner later on.