M_surinamensis
Shillelagh Law
- Messages
- 1,165
You know your gecko a lot better than your gecko knows you.
They aren't intelligent, self aware, sapient or capable of acting with intent. They aren't aware of themselves as a living organism so there is no way they can conceptualize an abstract like what it means for another living organism to be a distinct individual.
Stimulus -> Predetermined Instinctive Response*
The reason everyone's geckos seem to react better to them is because you, the owner, subconsciously and constantly adapt your behavior based on your observations of the gecko. Without even realizing it most the time, you constantly collect information and subtly adapt your handling techniques to reflect what you have learned. You find the exact angle that is best to reach in from, you know that animal doesn't like having it's face touched but doesn't respond the same way if you pet its back, you have experience reading the animal as it moves or shifts its weight and can make the small movements that keep it calm, keep it controlled and keep it contained.
Someone else who tries the same thing doesn't have that experience, hasn't gone through the learning process that you have- the way they handle the animal or interact with it is not identical, although the differences can be quite small- they are providing a different stimulus and this, in turn, can provoke a different response.
*the degree to which these instinctive responses can be modified is minimal, reptiles have a memory and thought process that is procedural rather than declarative and their ability to recognize patterns is rudimentary, it pretty much necessitates an associated pre-existing behavior.
They aren't intelligent, self aware, sapient or capable of acting with intent. They aren't aware of themselves as a living organism so there is no way they can conceptualize an abstract like what it means for another living organism to be a distinct individual.
Stimulus -> Predetermined Instinctive Response*
The reason everyone's geckos seem to react better to them is because you, the owner, subconsciously and constantly adapt your behavior based on your observations of the gecko. Without even realizing it most the time, you constantly collect information and subtly adapt your handling techniques to reflect what you have learned. You find the exact angle that is best to reach in from, you know that animal doesn't like having it's face touched but doesn't respond the same way if you pet its back, you have experience reading the animal as it moves or shifts its weight and can make the small movements that keep it calm, keep it controlled and keep it contained.
Someone else who tries the same thing doesn't have that experience, hasn't gone through the learning process that you have- the way they handle the animal or interact with it is not identical, although the differences can be quite small- they are providing a different stimulus and this, in turn, can provoke a different response.
*the degree to which these instinctive responses can be modified is minimal, reptiles have a memory and thought process that is procedural rather than declarative and their ability to recognize patterns is rudimentary, it pretty much necessitates an associated pre-existing behavior.
