Delay

Description

When the subject is slow starting the action, there are a number of ways you can address this:

Random reward: Not rewarding them every time can make them more anxious and hence perform the action with greater alacrity.

Pre-reward: Give them a reward before even the cue. This gets their attention and they may then start looking for the next titbit.

Model action: Physically show them the action, demonstrating what you want them to do.

Coaxing: Encourage them with words (and the hope of reward) in the right direction.

Guiding: Gently move their body in the right way, with lots of encouragement.

If you can understand why they are delaying, then you may be able to better address the cause of that delay. In challenging the delay you may be able to be quite creative. The only rule is that what works, works!

Example

A dog does not want to lie down as it puts it in a vulnerable position. The owner gets down on the floor and coaxes it to get to the same position before rewarding it.

A child is slow to come to the dinner table. His mother gives him five minutes to get there, then gives his dinner to the dog. Next time he arrives on time!

Discussion

Subjects can delay when they:

Did not clearly sense the cue

Do not know what to do

Are bored

Are not hungry for the reward

Are distracted

Feel they are moving into an inferior situation

Feel threatened and want to stay in an alert situation

If you know why they delay, then you have a far better chance of getting them to act in the way you want.

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Delay

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Quick links

Disciplines

Techniques

Principles

Explanations

Theories

And