AAI Foundations and Terminology Flashcards
7 cards from real AAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 AAI Foundations and Terminology flashcards as text
Which of the following animal species is most commonly used in formal AAT due to its social nature and predictability?
Answer: Dogs
Dogs are the most commonly used AAT animals due to their domestication history, social bonding capacity, trainability, and relative behavioral predictability.
In the context of AAI, 'adverse incident reporting' protocols are designed to:
Answer: Record and analyze events such as animal bites, allergic reactions, or behavioral incidents to improve safety
Adverse incident reporting captures safety events to enable root-cause analysis, improve protocols, and protect clients, handlers, and animals.
The term 'therapeutic rapport' in AAI is best described as:
Answer: The trusting, collaborative relationship between a client and therapist that the animal's presence may facilitate
Therapeutic rapport is the working alliance between client and therapist; in AAI, the animal often serves as a social catalyst that helps build this alliance more quickly.
Which concept explains why clients may find it easier to discuss difficult emotions when an animal is present in the therapy room?
Answer: The social lubricant effect
The social lubricant effect describes how an animal's presence can reduce social anxiety and defensiveness, making it easier for clients to open up in therapeutic conversations.
What is meant by 'species-appropriate interaction' in AAI standards?
Answer: Ensuring interactions respect the natural behavioral needs and communication signals of the specific animal species involved
Species-appropriate interaction means understanding and respecting the unique ethology, stress signals, and behavioral needs of each animal species used in AAI.
In AAI literature, which phrase describes the measurable positive change in a client outcome directly attributable to the animal's involvement?
Answer: Animal-specific treatment effect
Researchers use 'animal-specific treatment effect' to isolate the portion of client improvement attributable to the animal component versus other aspects of the intervention.
Why is supervision by a credentialed mental health professional considered essential in AAT (not just AAA)?
Answer: Because AAT addresses clinical treatment goals requiring professional assessment, intervention, and accountability
AAT targets clinical goals such as reducing PTSD symptoms or improving emotional regulation, which require professional clinical judgment, ethical oversight, and licensure accountability.