The concept of choice

I’m talking about a time that people under 20 can’t possibly know about.

When I was a kid, probably around 6 years old, there was a video rental shop that rented VHS tapes (we were still at that stage!), which made the transition to DVDs before finally closing a few years later with the advent of the internet and online downloads.

For those wondering what it is, the principle is simple: go and pick up a film at any time of the day or night from this distributor. The film is rented for a period of 6 hours, 24 hours or more, and the rental price varies depending on how long you want to rent it for.

It was a time when Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video did not exist, the internet was still in its infancy for the general public, and access to entertainment was much more difficult.

➡️ Well, Marion, it’s nice that you have fond childhood memories, but what does that have to do with anything?

Well… Back then, watching a film in the evening was a real challenge. You had to earn it if you didn’t want to settle for the usual TV schedule.
However, I clearly remember being the first to jump at the chance to accompany my father to the distributor, which was located at the other end of town.

So my question is this: as a child, what caused the behaviour of ‘accompanying my father’ to be reinforced to the point where I accompanied him on every occasion?

There are no other reasons than having a choice.
To have a choice, I was willing to brave the cold, get out from under the blanket, put on my shoes, just to have the opportunity to choose a film!

I knew nothing about films, and at that time, the best way to judge was still to look at the cover (not a very reliable criterion, if you ask me!).

✅ Choice, the opportunity to have a choice, IS a PRIMARY reinforcer. Certainly even the primary reinforcer that trumps all others, including food.

Take the time to digest this information and all the implications it has for our daily lives with our animals, because it has many very practical applications.

We control every aspect of our animals’ lives. From where they sleep, to what they eat, to who they meet, to where they go for walks, to what they are allowed to do or not do. We choose the harness they will wear, but we rarely consider whether that harness is suitable. We choose the tools we make them carry, but do we ask for their consent? Very few of us really know how to do this. We control absolutely EVERY aspect of the lives of the animals that accompany us on a daily basis.

But know this: your animals will fight for the opportunity to have choice and control over certain aspects of their lives.

Giving them choices and control over specific, safe situations encourages them to make the right decisions, shows them that we are on their side, and eliminates the power struggles that would otherwise inevitably arise. It gives them confidence in certain processes and allows them to do things that would otherwise have been unimaginable (I am thinking here of medical training, for example, but also of taming). Have you ever seen a cacatoes alba voluntarily take nose drops for a heavy daily treatment thanks to the immense groundwork carried out by competent professionals? I have.

Offering the opportunity to choose is empowering in itself!
It also means that the more your pet is forced and cornered, the more it will feel rejected. To put it another way: Everything will depend on how you present things.

Do you have a bird that rejects others? Think about it.

Does your bird reject the toys you put in its cage? Think about it.

Do you have a dog that runs away from its harness? Think about it.

Do you have a dog that doesn’t respond to you when you let it off the leash? Think about it.

But actually, I could go on like this for a very long time.

I could also talk about this cat (what do you mean, I’m talking about real life?) who deliberately chooses to open the closed door, even though the bay window is wide open and access to the outside is possible. Who, incidentally, opens the door, looks at his handiwork, and leaves (while remaining inside).

So what is the enhancer? It’s very simple: he CAN do it. That’s all there is to it, there are no other reinforcers. I can. I am in control.

It is a concept that we often think we understand, yet it is one of the most difficult to fully master, both in theory and in practice.

Taking away control and choice seriously compromises the well-being of our animals. It risks creating fears and phobias. It increases the risk of aggression, which will always lead to an escalation of violence. And in this game, even if we can ‘win’ against smaller species, I assure you that we will always, always lose. It risks learned helplessness, emotional distress, apathy. It increases avoidance strategies, creates chronic stress and so many other things.

Do you have a bird with clipped wings because you were told it was for its safety?
✴️ They depend on you to get them from point A to point B. Hello frustration when you can’t satisfy their immediate desires.
✴️ Are you heading towards something scary? He is unable to flee and risks being overwhelmed with increased fears and a greater risk of aggression.
✴️ Do you really think he benefits from the 5 or 6 times a year when he gets to go outside and be fully immersed in the world, while the rest of the time he is forced to live with a disability and a lack of mobility that makes him suffer?

And so many other things… Lack of control leads to problematic behaviour.

“That’s all well and good, but how do we deal with undesirable behaviours that result from choice?”

Can we really call this undesirable behaviour? Does it justify removing control? Are there alternative, ethical strategies for finding a compromise that does not compromise anyone’s well-being? Does giving someone a choice mean ‘letting them do whatever they want’ without giving them the tools to manage situations?

No, really, it’s much more complex than it seems! Answers in a future chapter…

Did you think that to get results with ‘difficult’ children, you had to limit their control, limit their choices and use coercion? I want to prove to you that not only is it possible to do things differently, but that our children will give us so much more!

Marion
Certified Professional Bird Trainer
Fear Free Certified Professional