Would Behaviour Therapy Work for Benji?

It was decided that for Benji, they would try behavioral modification therapy. He would spend several weeks at the shelter, where cats would be introduced to him in a controlled environment. This part of the program is known as desensitization, where repeated exposure to the trigger stops the aggressive response.

For the other part of his treatment, the workers employed counter-conditioning. Giving him treats and words of encouragement with the trigger conditioned Benji to think that cats were good. This positive reinforcement method forces animals to reconsider their feelings; they realize something they consider negative has positive consequences.