Habituation vs Sensitisation
Time for our Behaviour Makes More Sense clip: Habituation vs Sensitisation
“They’ll get used to it.”
But… will they?
With habituation, repeated exposure to something that is insignificant or harmless can lead to a decreased response over time.
But repeated exposure can also have the opposite effect.
With sensitisation, the response becomes stronger.
The dog who becomes increasingly worried by a particular sound, increasingly alert to dogs appearing on walks, or increasingly uncomfortable in a particular situation isn’t necessarily “getting used to it” simply because they keep experiencing it.
Their nervous system may actually be learning:
This matters. Pay MORE attention to it.
And that’s why exposure alone isn’t a behaviour plan.
We need to consider the individual dog, their emotional response, intensity, predictability, opportunities for choice and recovery, and what they’re actually learning from each experience.
Because repetition doesn’t guarantee habituation.
Sometimes, repetition teaches the brain to listen even louder.
And when we understand what the brain is learning, behaviour makes more sense.
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