This episode Jose Bello, Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment, discusses superstitious behavior. Jose starts with breaking down what it means for a behavior to be superstitious and examples of what that looks like in a practical application.  Next, Jose educates about the “potential danger” in labeling behaviors as superstitious and how taking the blame away from the animal and placing it on us as the trainers, can give us a better understanding of what is accidentally reinforcing or punishing a superstitious behavior. The episode ends with a discussion and a reminder that all behavior has function and how that mindset can help trainers and teams have a cohesive understanding of superstitious behaviors.  Stay tuned in for Jose’s o-fish-ally great "Training Tale" about a guest’s reaction to water kenneling fish.  For questions or suggestions about the podcast email [email protected] and to contact Jose email J[email protected] Let's talk some training and banter about behavior! 

7:00 Introduction to Jose Bello 

10:05 Definition and practical application of superstitious behavior 

14:55 What does it look like if something is accidentally reinforced? 

16:15 How to identify a superstitious behavior? 

19:10 What is the potential “danger” in labeling a behavior as superstitious? 

21:25 If there is a “potential danger”, should we still call behaviors superstitious? 

23:50 How can having extra communication about superstitious behaviors arising from accidental reinforcement help with any labels that may come with the term? 

25:50 Advice for recognizing that a behavior has been accidentally reinforced and isn’t just “something the animal always does” 

28:05 Recognizing what is actually the reinforcer(s) or punisher(s) for a superstitious behavior?  

29:30 All behavior has function

33:45 “Training Tales”