The Matching Law and Needs-Oriented Facilitation in Animal-Assisted Intervention
In animal-assisted intervention (AAI), two complex systems meet: the human and the animal. Neither acts randomly; both orient themselves toward what feels most rewarding in the moment. A useful psychological framework to understand this dynamic is the Matching Law (Herrnstein, 1961). When combined with a needs-oriented, neuroaffirmative approach, it provides valuable insights for designing interventions that move beyond pressure, expectation, and deficit thinking.
What is the Matching Law?
The Matching Law describes the relationship between behavior and reinforcement:
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Organisms distribute their behavior across available options according to the rate and quality of reinforcement.
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In simple terms: behavior occurs most often where it “pays off” the most.
Transfer to AAI
In animal-assisted contexts, reinforcement processes operate on several levels:
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Animal – Client
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The animal provides immediate reinforcement through proximity, eye contact, warmth, or play.
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The client naturally chooses the interaction that feels most rewarding or regulating.
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Client – Setting
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Humans respond more strongly to activities that provide self-regulation and a sense of agency.
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Behaviors that hold the highest value will be expressed more frequently.
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Animal – Professional
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Animals also “match”: they seek proximity when it is rewarding and distance when that feels safer.
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This highlights why choice and autonomy for the animal are both ethical and relevant for sustainable training.
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Needs-Oriented Facilitation as a Guiding Principle
While the Matching Law explains why behavior occurs, the central question for practitioners is: How do we shape the conditions under which behavior develops?
A needs-oriented approach provides the framework:
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Respect for choice: both humans and animals must be free to say no.
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Recognition of reinforcement: even behaviors that do not fit conventional expectations may serve important regulatory functions.
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Creating conditions: interventions should be structured so that regulatory and relationship-building behaviors are reinforced more strongly than those that are burdensome or unsafe.
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Neuroaffirmative stance: especially with neurodivergent clients, behavior is not resistance but a meaningful choice in the context of regulation.
Implications for Training Concepts
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Understand, don’t judge: every behavior makes sense when viewed through reinforcement contingencies.
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Provide diverse options: multiple forms of interaction (observation, touch, movement) allow each individual to find their most rewarding pathway.
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Safeguard animal welfare: animals, too, “match” their behavior—ensuring they have choices and positive experiences is essential.
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Aim for balance: not only short-term but also long-term healthy reinforcement patterns should be supported—for both human and animal.
Conclusion
The Matching Law reminds us that behavior is always an expression of reinforcement. In needs-oriented animal-assisted intervention, this means designing programs so that regulatory, safe, and relationship-enhancing interactions are the most rewarding options available. Growth and learning thus emerge not from pressure, but from choice, meaningful experience, and positive reinforcement—for both humans and animals.