Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training, Vol. 1: Adaptation and Learning by Steven R. Lindsay

Author:Steven R. Lindsay
Language: eng
Format: mobi, pdf
Tags: Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal, Medical, General, Pets, Dogs
ISBN: 9780813807546
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2000-01-29T22:00:00+00:00

206

CHAPTER SIX

ing or harmful target.

Preservative

Preservative

Preparatory reflexes are composed of cen-

preparatory

consummatory

trally organized motivational and evocative

mechanisms arousing an animal to action in

Protective

Protective

the mutually exclusive directions of attraction

preparatory

consummatory

or repulsion. Alimentary reflexes, whether in-

volving eating, urinating, or defecating, de-

FIG. 6.3. Konorski’s (1967) classification of adaptive

pend on the operation of a number of inter-

behavior.

nal preparatory reflexes that provide the

necessary motivational conditions for the spe-

cific consummatory actions to occur. The

cial contact, and reproduction, whereas the

preservative action of eating, for example, is

term protective denotes the set of reflexive be-

composed of preparatory reflexes related to

havioral adjustments that either direct the an-

hunger, which set the motivational occasion

imal away from noxious or dangerous stimuli

for the consummatory reflexes associated

(flight) or cause the animal to attempt to de-

with the ingestion of food. The amount of

stroy them (fight). Preservative reflexes are

hunger experienced by an animal directly af-

appetitive and elicited by attractive stimuli,

fects the magnitude of the consummatory

whereas protective reflexes are defensive and

eating reflex finally expressed. Likewise, elim-

elicited by aversive stimuli. These reflexive

ination is comprised of an interaction of

mechanisms are related to one another along

preparatory and consummatory reflexes. As

an approach-withdrawal continuum based on

the result of pressure-sensitive receptors lo-

a biological optimization of the organism’s

cated in the bladder and bowel, preparatory

well-being and adaptation to the surrounding

reflexes are elicited that set the motivational

environment.

occasions for the consummatory actions of

urinating or defecating.

Preparatory and Consummatory Reflexes

A similar cooperative arrangement be-

tween preparation and consummation medi-

This scheme of reflexive organization is fur-

ates the expression of protective reflexes.

ther subdivided into two sequential and in-

Preparatory protective reflexes involve the es-

terdependent modes of expression that

cape-avoidance of painful or fearful internal

Konorski refers to as preparation and con-

states. Fear is essentially an autonomic re-

summation. Both preservative and protective

sponse preparing the organism with appropri-

reflexes are expressed through these two se-

ate emotional arousal for the occurrence of

quencing modes. The term preparatory de-

aversive stimulation:

notes all the drive and emotional factors

compelling a dog to seek out attractive stim-

There is no doubt that most fear reflexes are

uli or to avoid aversive ones. Consummatory

closely correlated with pain. As a matter of

reflexes include all those reflex actions associ-

fact, every living creature is afraid of pain, and

ated with the adaptive demands made by the

a large part of its behavior is concerned with

environment upon a dog. Preservative con-

developing such preparatory activities as would

prevent the occurrence of painful stimuli. It is,

summatory reflexes include biological actions

however, clear that preventing a noxious stimu-

like salivation, mastication, drinking, and

lus depends upon its anticipation, which is

swallowing. Protective consummatory reflexes

usually accomplished through conditioning.

are composed of both defensive and offensive

(Konorski, 1967:30)

reactions. Defensive reflexes include escape-

avoidance responses and various biological re-

Some fears, however, do not appear to de-

jection reflexes like vomiting, sneezing, spit-

pend on a conditioning process to develop.

ting, shaking, scratching, and blinking.

Such fears are, in the terminology of Selig-

Offensive consummatory reflexes include var-

man (1971), biologically prepared (or hard-

ious forms of aggressive behavior directed to-

wired). Many dogs are innately fearful of

ward the control or destruction of a threaten-

loud, startling noises like fireworks or thun-

Classical Conditioning

207

der. Some are emotionally reactive toward

the adjustment of the pupils and lenses, and

separation or isolation in an unfamiliar place,

converging of the eyes on a single item of fo-

leading to intense preparatory reactions

cused attention.

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