Chapter Text
It was never something that crossed Eva Stratt's mind.
She's sitting at her desk, contemplating the comment Dr Lokken had said in passing.
He follows you around like a dog!
A dog…
They had dating accusations before but this really flipped her world around. It wasn't the fact that it was an absurd comment making her head tense — it was a fact they are kind of right. She can picture Grace right now working; imaginary ears perking up whenever she says his name, that stupid pout knowing he's done something wrong, the gentle encouragement she gives when he needs to talk to new people. Perhaps she should start calling him good boy as a reward. Praise was something that Grace seemed to thoroughly enjoy, straight from the get go.
Recently though, Stratt noticed she hasn't giving him a gold star all that much. And it's affecting his performance. Still doing the necessary work yes, but without the spark she's previously seen. More or less he's also getting sloppy with his calculations — she cannot afford sloppy right now.
Tapping her pen slightly on the desk, her thoughts were jumbled in a cluttered mess. It suddenly all aligned with a single idea, like a light bulb clicked in her head. However said, it is supposedly only used on training dogs. But Grace could use the extra encouragement.
Stratt opened her laptop and started searching, she wasn't the most informed on clicker training. I mean she was a history major for gods sake; all the science stuff will be left to the scientists.
After clicking through some articles and studies, a general idea had formed in her mind. The official term to be used is classical conditioning, discovered by Russion physiologist Ivan Pavlov (hey that's a name she recognises!). Only a little familiar with his work on Pavlov's Dog, but she needed to go further. The basis of classical conditioning is it's a type of learning that occurs through repeated association of two (or more) different stimuli. The learning is only said to have occurred when a particular stimulus consistently produces a response that it did not previously produce. It has to be reflexive and involuntary.
It wasn't hard for her to decipher what two stimulis she would use as association — the clicker and a reward. The reward bit she still needs to figure out.
The entire process can be explained in 5 key elements: unconditioned stimulus (UCS), unconditioned response (UCR), neutral stimulus (NS), conditioned stimulus (CS) and conditioned response (CR).
Starting off with unconditioned stimulus and unconditioned response — any stimulus that consistenly produces a natural occuring, automatic involuntary response (UCR). Pavlov's study involved dogs and meat powder, but Grace is not a dog, meat powder might not be the most effective method for him. Perhaps a sweet treat or praise would do it for him.
The process then moved towards a neutral stimulus — a stimulus that does not normally produce any response. A clicker. Sure, Stratt could use any sound to associate the reward yet it felt more grounding to have a clicker in hand. More in control.
Now with the neutral stimulus, it will be paired with the unconditioned stimulus to create the same unconditioned response. This procedure will eventually lead into a conditioned stimulus and conditioned response — he will start eliciting a conditioned response from the clicker.
In Stratt's theory, Grace will become more effective at working if he could associate the clicker with praise and a reward when he does a good job. Like her science lapdog.
Satisfied, she closed her laptop. All the main points were written on a memo beside her; it was simple enough. Buy a clicker, buy a treat, start training. Clicker was easy enough to come by, she'll just need to call someone to pick one up for her no questions asked. However, treat is something engrained into the trainee — a reward they'll be satisifed enough with.
Stratt went back into thought, leaning against her chair when a knock on the door came. She looked up from her seat. Speak of the devil.
"Hey, just wanted to drop off the notes from the last meeting."
"Thank you Dr Grace you can leave it on my desk." She sat up more straight and patted down her sweater. Grace nodded, giving a sheepish smile as he entered her room. Stratt watched closely now. The waiting for permission to enter, careful placement of the papers with one hand as the other occupied a packet of Skittles, the way he popped one in his mouth unconsciously after putting the papers down.
Grace hovered over her desk for a minute. She didn't notice she's probably been staring at him for a while now.
"Yes?" She eventually said.
"Are you okay?" The concern in his voice was noted.
"I'm fine Dr Grace why?" Stratt reassured him with her neutral tone.
"It's just.." He said before trailing off, the words in his mouth dissolving slowly alongside the Skittles.
She gave him a blank expression.
"Nevermind." He brushed it off and turned to leave before giving a hand out, "Skittle?"
"No thanks." She declined kindly.
The door shut with a click.
She involuntarily went to lean back in her chair again then paused. Grace's hand held more than just papers. Skittles. A sweet treat. Stratt smiled at the convenience. At occassions, he did hold a packet of skittles for comfort — like a kid with a lollipop. It was childish, uneccessary, and perfect for her training.
Next to her, she dialed her phone in for someone. Someone who wouldn't question it too far and also run her errands momentarily. It rang out for a minute and…
"It's Carl."
"I need you to pick up a clicker."
"Clicker?" His voice raised by an octave, curiously. Stratt sighed, she did not have time for explanations to her eccentric requests.
"Yes I will not repeat myself. Clicker. I also need Skittles." She ordered in an assertive tone.
"Uh—" Carl's line momentarily cut out at a loss for words.
A silence stretched out briefly but Stratt did not waver on her demand.
"I can get them to you tomorrow morning."
"Good. Thank you Carl." She hung up and put her phone down.
Tomorrow morning, the training will start. Stratt pondered at her desk before opening her laptop again to check emails. Her work has not changed, nothing has to change. She continued on her afterenoon normally from then on, locking the thought away to the back of her mind.