Clean Run Magazine - July 2008 - 63

Arousal Levels Focus on By Deborah Jones, PhD A sense of fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, or excitement may be perceived, depending on the situation and the triggering stimulus. For example, the sound of a door slamming could provoke fear if you are alone in the house late at night, or excitement if you are awaiting the arrival of a loved one, or frustration if you’ve told the kids 1,000 times not to do it. This concept—that you feel the physiological arousal first, and then label it based on your perception of the event—is at the heart of the Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory of Emotion, which explains why individuals have different reactions to the same event. One person loves the rush of riding a roller coaster, while another is paralyzed with fear at the mere thought. Put quite simply, they perceive their physiological arousal differently. What one person labels exciting the other labels a threat, and that makes all the difference in the reaction to the event. In addition to the emotion that is perceived, there are also changes in thought processes. Once highly aroused, it is typically difficult to concentrate and think in a rational and logical manner. You may have had the experience of either racing thoughts or your mind going blank. Well-known information may be forgotten temporarily and more complex mental tasks may become nearly impossible. Smudge is a four-year-old Sheltie. He can become overaroused very quickly in training and trial environments. He perceives the sight and sound of agility as extremely exciting, and responds by becoming more physically active and less thoughtful. This leads to acting without regard to consequences and “forgetting” well-rehearsed behaviors and cues. Smudge is not being defiant or stubborn, he is simply automatically responding to his increased level of arousal in a way that is natural for him. Copper is a 10-year-old Papillon who showed successfully in agility for many years. He can also quickly become overaroused in training and trial environments, but displays very different responses than Smudge. His responses suggest that he perceives agility as a possible stressor rather than an exciting event. He responds by becoming more thoughtful and less active. He will slow down, become more careful in his actions, and monitor the environment more diligently for danger signs. Copper is also not being stubborn or defiant, he is simply responding to his increased arousal level in a way that is natural for him. Both Smudge and Copper are at the mercy of their arousal levels. In fact, we all are. Those arousal levels, and the way we perceive the stimuli that trigger them, very strongly impact our emotions, cognitions, and behaviors. In classical conditioning w e o ft e n t a l k a b o u t t h e stimulus-response connection. The stimulus (the triggering external event) automatically leads to the response (the action or behavior). SchachterSinger’s theory, however, suggests that the perception of the event contributes to the type of response that occurs. A perception that the stimulus signals fun and excitement leads to a response that is different from a perception of threat and danger. When psychologists discuss arousal levels, they are talking about the internal physical processes that influence emotions, cognition, and behaviors. A number of physical changes occur when a stimulus triggers arousal. Just a few of those changes include a faster heartbeat, dilated pupils, increased respiration, and the release of stress hormones. We often refer to this as the “fight or flight” response. Physically, the body reacts to possible threat or stress by either preparing for defense (fight) or running away (flight). There is also the possibility of a “freeze” response in the face of threat. Certain species are likely hard-wired to exhibit this response. By keeping perfectly still, they can avoid triggering predatory behaviors in other animals. A similar tendency to inhibit activity when threatened can be seen in certain individuals in a number of other species. Due to all these internal changes, behaviors change as well. Movements that are typically smooth and fluid may become choppy and jerky. Actions that have been well-rehearsed and practiced may degrade. Errors become more likely. So, why does that matter in dog training and agility? It matters because arousal levels are at the heart of many problems associated with training and showing. It seems likely that these arousal processes work in dogs in much the same way as they do in humans, and lead to similar problems. Dogs that are too highly aroused will not learn or perform to the best of their ability. The following are two common examples of what can go wrong with arousal levels. July 08 | Clean Run 63

Clean Run Magazine - July 2008

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