You will practice the holistic analysis method to categorize footage from animal behavior research into an attachment style. When animals engage in behavior, it can be more complex than just displaying a single behavior. Therefore, identifying patterns of behavior can be useful for anyone working with animals because it can help you hone in on complex responses to environmental situations.

Read the following definitions of attachment styles:

• Style 1, Secure: Little or no resistance to contact or interaction. Greeting behavior is active, open and positive. Seeks proximity and is comforted upon reunion, returning to exploration or play.
  • Exploratory behaviors may include investigation of novel room or interaction with novel toys.
• Style 2, Insecure-Ambivalent (Clinging): Shows exaggerated proximity-seeking and clinging behavior but may struggle if held by caretaker. Mixed persistent distress with efforts to maintain physical contact and/or physically intrusive behavior directed toward the owner.
  • Signs of distress may include frequent lip-licking, (quickly licks lips or nose with their tongue), excessive swallowing, or ears pointed backwards.

Watch Videos: Next, watch these two videos while considering the definitions you just read.

Video 1 link - https://youtu.be/c_C44ig_GKc?si=nt7XZHCaqLZrEBbF

Video 2 link - https://youtu.be/c_C44ig_GKc?si=f2V0cUbWZj4oabmb

Instructions:

Assign to an Attachment Style: After watching the videos assign each video to one of the 2 styles of attachment (Style 1 or Style 2). Choose the definition you feel best describes the patterns of behavior you saw in the video.

Intraspecies Comparison: The videos you just watched displayed an interspecies relationship (human-animal). However attachment is more commonly an aspect of parental care in intraspecies' relationships (i.e., within a species, such as between a parent and their offspring). Consider the animal species you've chosen for your Course Project. Is this animal species altricial or precocial? What role does the parent have in the life of their offspring? Is an attachment bond with a caregiver important for this species?

Reflection: You have now coded behavior using duration coding (length of time, from Week 2 Assignment 1 "Animal Behavior Coding") and holistic coding (observing for patterns of behavior, or assessing the "complete" picture). What thoughts do you have about holistic coding compared to duration coding? What are some strengths and weaknesses of holistic coding compared to other methods of analyzing behavior, such as examining a single behavior as a duration or frequency?