Further evidence for Tinkelpaugh Effect

[baka_na_haha]

One doggie treat ritual at our house is that the dogs get a treat after I brush S's hair if they have been quiet. This generally involves me going into the kitchen and getting a treat from the treat jar by the stove. One of my patient's gave me a huge container to special doggie treats for Christmas (since I made it clear that I was not interested in eating goodies myself). These treats seem to be especially yummy to the dogs and the container is currently being kept in the dining room. The other day, after the hair-brushing ritual, I decided to give the dogs one of the special Christmas dog treats (instead of their usual treat). They went into the kitchen, waiting for their usual treat. I had to call them several times and rustle the package loudly before they would even go to the dining room. They were willing to eat the special treat but they did not seem at all happy about it. Then they immediately went back to the kitchen again, waiting for the treat they had expected in the first place. Tinkelpaugh in effect yet again!

Friday, Jan. 7:

J - 4

B - 4

Comments

[fantwurm.livejournal.com]

I've heard of Pavlov. Who's Tinkelpaugh? We're not all psychologists you know.

[baka-na-haha.livejournal.com]

Actually, Tinkelpaugh is so obscure that even psychologists haven't heard of him. The Tinkelpaugh Effect just happens to be J's favorite psychological phenomenon. (Do most people even have a favorite psychological phenomenon? I wonder . . .)

Anyway, this guy demonstrated that creatures are most happy when things meet their expectations and that it is upsetting when expectations are violated, even if the result is actually as good or better than what you were expecting. He had mice running in a maze. The mice loved both lettuce and grapes, but they were used to getting lettuce as a reward when they successfully completed the maze. After many, many trials of having lettuce at the end of the maze, they were given a grape instead of the lettuce. The mice got upset and agitated because this was not what they were expecting.

(Personally, I think J likes this Effect so much primarily because the dude has a funny name, but that's just my opinion.) It's amazing how often this effect comes up in our family.