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Is there evidence of “Learned Helplessness” in horses?

Is there evidence of “Learned Helplessness” in horses?
Is there evidence of “Learned Helplessness” in horses?
Learned helplessness can be defined as a psychological condition whereby individuals learn that they have no control over unpleasant or harmful conditions, that their actions are futile and that they are helpless. In a series of experiments in which dogs were exposed to inescapable shocks it was found that this lack of control subsequently interfered with the ability to learn an avoidance task. There is evidence that both neural adaptations and behavioural despair occur in response to uncontrollable aversive experiences in rodents, although this has yet to be demonstrated in other species such as horses. However, it has been suggested that certain traditional methods of horse training and some behavioral modification techniques may involve aversive conditions over which the horse has little or no control. When training and management procedures are repeatedly unpleasant for the horse and there is no clear association between behavior and outcome, this is likely to interfere with learning and performance, in addition to compromising welfare. This paper reviews published literature and anecdotal evidence to explore the possibility that the phenomenon ‘learned helplessness’ occurs in the horse.
p.8
Michigan State University Press
Hall, C.
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Goodwin, D.
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Heleski, C.
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Randle, H.
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Waran, N.
354a96a7-51b3-42a1-a571-d75589f439e3
Goodwin, D.
Heleski, C.
McGreevy, P.
McLean, A.
Randle, H.
Skelley, C.
van Dierendonk, M.
Waran, N.
Hall, C.
bd42f2b9-18cd-4d03-8cca-f4374d2211ad
Goodwin, D.
44ea5b5f-3933-4171-83b6-8d48928e27ca
Heleski, C.
0b84cf8e-ed4b-4ff1-979a-060d516ec9b1
Randle, H.
72c87ab0-7786-458b-92c6-21d48b1cb55b
Waran, N.
354a96a7-51b3-42a1-a571-d75589f439e3
Goodwin, D.
Heleski, C.
McGreevy, P.
McLean, A.
Randle, H.
Skelley, C.
van Dierendonk, M.
Waran, N.

Hall, C., Goodwin, D., Heleski, C., Randle, H. and Waran, N. (2007) Is there evidence of “Learned Helplessness” in horses? Goodwin, D., Heleski, C., McGreevy, P., McLean, A., Randle, H., Skelley, C., van Dierendonk, M. and Waran, N. (eds.) In Proceedings of the 3rd International Equitation Science Conference. Michigan State University Press. p.8 .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

Learned helplessness can be defined as a psychological condition whereby individuals learn that they have no control over unpleasant or harmful conditions, that their actions are futile and that they are helpless. In a series of experiments in which dogs were exposed to inescapable shocks it was found that this lack of control subsequently interfered with the ability to learn an avoidance task. There is evidence that both neural adaptations and behavioural despair occur in response to uncontrollable aversive experiences in rodents, although this has yet to be demonstrated in other species such as horses. However, it has been suggested that certain traditional methods of horse training and some behavioral modification techniques may involve aversive conditions over which the horse has little or no control. When training and management procedures are repeatedly unpleasant for the horse and there is no clear association between behavior and outcome, this is likely to interfere with learning and performance, in addition to compromising welfare. This paper reviews published literature and anecdotal evidence to explore the possibility that the phenomenon ‘learned helplessness’ occurs in the horse.

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More information

Published date: August 2007
Venue - Dates: 3rd International Equitation Science Conference, Michigan, USA, 2007-08-12 - 2007-08-15

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 63515
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/63515
PURE UUID: 36c0affc-9469-47dc-a4a3-c3b37d77bdba

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Date deposited: 20 Oct 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 11:40

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Contributors

Author: C. Hall
Author: D. Goodwin
Author: C. Heleski
Author: H. Randle
Author: N. Waran
Editor: D. Goodwin
Editor: C. Heleski
Editor: P. McGreevy
Editor: A. McLean
Editor: H. Randle
Editor: C. Skelley
Editor: M. van Dierendonk
Editor: N. Waran

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