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Flooding and why we don't use it in Behaviour Modification.

by Cara Williams MA - Animal Behaviourist

Flooding is when we force an animal to remain in the proximity of an object or in a context that it fears, giving him no opportunity to escape. Some believe that by keeping the animal in the feared situation he will eventually realise that the situation will cause no harm and accept it as being 'ok'.

For example, many horses are fearful of pigs. Flooding would involve putting the horse in a stable with a pig, or at least in close proximity to the pig, and leaving him to 'get over his fear'.

However, research has shown that, on average, flooding is more likely to result in the original fear of the object not diminishing but turning into a phobia. Phobias are profound fear reactions and are more difficult to eradicate with gradual exposure to the object than ordinary fears are. Therefore this technique can cause long lasting psychological damage to the animal and is not recommended in our behaviour modification programs.  

Therefore, above example is not only scientifically flawed, but dangerous. When overcoming fears and phobias in animals we ensure that at no time is the animal's fear reinforced. Because horses, dogs and cats need for safety is so important, we keep pairing this feeling with those objects/situations that are causing the fear. Gradually, the animal changes his attitude toward the problem leading to effective, lasting and stress free behaviour change.  

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