Beyond Consent: Navigating the Nuances of Assent in Animal Training
Many of us struggle to bridge the gap between high-level theory and daily practice. We hear terms like “choice” and “control,” but implementing them in a way that truly honors the animal can be challenging. To help navigate these waters, I sat down with Hannah D. McGee to unravel a vital but sometimes misunderstood concept: Assent.
Meet Your Guide: Hannah D. McGee
Hannah is a leading voice at the intersection of behavior, learning, and systems improvement. Currently the Manager of Behavior at MSPCA-Angell, Hannah brings a unique perspective as both a behavioral researcher and an instructional design specialist. With her deep roots in research from the University of North Texas and her experience in large-scale behavior program implementation, she bridges the academic and practical worlds.
Why Assent Matters (And How It Differs from Consent)
In our deep-dive podcast episode, Hannah breaks down why simply having an animal “participate” isn’t always enough. Here are the core pillars we explored:
Assent vs. Consent: While consent is often seen as a “yes” to a procedure, assent is about the continuous monitoring of that “yes.” Hannah explains why watching for assent gives you a much clearer picture of your animal’s true desires and your own training efficiency.
The Tricky Terrain of Coercion: This is a tough one for many trainers to swallow. Just because an animal is participating doesn’t mean they aren’t being coerced. We discuss the case of a rat named Puff to illustrate how easily we can inadvertently override an animal’s choice.
Degrees of Freedom: How many choices does your animal actually have? By exploring this concept, we look at how to offer genuine choices rather than just “illusions of choice.” The story of a rat named Perry will likely challenge how you think about reinforcement forever.
Listen to the Deep Dive
If you are looking for a roadmap to master training that respects participation and well-being, this conversation is a must-listen. Avoiding burnout and ineffectiveness starts with arming yourself with a toolkit built on resilience and science.
Keep the Conversation Going
How do you monitor assent in your daily sessions? It’s a journey of constant refinement, and we’d love to hear your thoughts.