Behavior
Modification
What is Behavior
Modification
Behavior modification is the process of changing patterns of
human behavior over the long-term using various motivational
techniques, mainly negative, and positive reinforcement. It can
be a useful tool to encourage desirable behaviors in yourself,
your children, or your employees. The theory behind behavior
modification identifies that we can change the way we act, or
react, by attaching consequences to our actions and learning
from those consequences. The psychologist B.F. Skinner,
known for his research on behavioral analysis, postulated that
if the consequences of an action are unfavorable, there is a
good chance the action or behavior will not be repeated, and if
the consequences are favorable, the chances are better that
the action or behavior will be [Link] referred to this
concept as “the principle of reinforcement.”
Strategies for Behavior Modification
Discipline
Discipline strategies fall under positive or negative
punishment. Positive punishment involves adding a
consequence, while negative punishment involves taking
something away.
Positive Punishment
Punishment is used to stop negative behaviors.
And while it sounds confusing to refer to
punishment as "positive," in operant conditioning, the term
positive means adding. So a positive punishment involves
adding a consequence that will deter the child from
repeating the behavior.
Specific examples of positive punishment include:
Giving a child an extra chore as a consequence for lying
when asked if they cleaned their room
Insisting a child do a sibling's chore after hurting their
sibling
.
Negative Punishment
Negative punishment involves taking
something away. Examples include taking
away privileges or removing positive
attention.
Specific examples of negative punishment
include:
Actively ignoring a temper tantrum
Taking away a child's electronics
privileges
Reinforcement
Reinforcement is a technique that encourages
or discourages specific behavior. Like
punishment, reinforcement can be positive or
negative.
Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement refers to giving a child
something that reinforces good behavior.
Discipline that relies mostly on positive
reinforcement is usually very effective
Specific examples of positive reinforcement
include:
Saying, “Great job putting your dish away
before I even asked you to!”
Allowing a child to earn time to play on their
tablet because they completed their homework.
Negative Reinforcement
Negative reinforcement is when a child is motivated
to change their behavior because it will take away
something unpleasant.
A child who stops a behavior because their parent
yells at them is trying to get rid of the negative
reinforcer (the yelling). Negative reinforcement
should be used sparingly with kids as it is less
effective than positive reinforcement.
Specific examples of negative reinforcement include:
Parents nag their child to do chores. The child
does their chores to make the nagging stop.
A teenager complains about school during the
ride to school every morning. The child's father
turns on talk radio loudly to drown him out. The
next day the teenager doesn't complain about
anything because they don't want to listen to talk
radio.
Theories for Behavior Modification
Social Cognitive Theory
Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory
proposes that people are driven not by
inner forces, but by external factors.
This model suggests that human
functioning can be explained by a triadic
interaction of behavior, personal and
environmental factors
This is often known as reciprocal determinism.
Environmental factors represent situational
influences and environment in which behavior is
preformed while personal factors include instincts,
drives, traits, and other individual motivational
forces. Several constructs underlie the process of
human learning and behavior change. These
variables may also intervene in the process of
behavior change
Self-efficacy — A judgment of one’s ability to
perform the behavior.
• Outcome Expectations — A judgment of the likely
consequences a behavior will produce. The
importance of these expectations (i.e., expectancies)
may also drive behavior.
• Self-Control — The ability of an individual to control
their behaviors.
• Reinforcements — Something that increases or
decreases the likelihood a behavior will continue.
• Emotional Coping — The ability of an individual to
cope with emotional stimuli.
• Observational Learning — The acquisition of
behaviors by observing actions and outcomes of
others’ behavior
change..
How can this theory inform your practice?
• To increase levels of self-efficacy it may be
important to provide resources and support to
raise individual confidence. Others have suggested
that to raise self-efficacy behavior change should
be approached as a series of small steps.
• Bandura3 writes that even when individuals have
a strong sense of efficacy they may not perform
the behavior if they have no incentive. This seems
to suggest that if we are interested in getting
others to enact behavior change it may be
important to provide incentives and rewards for
the behaviors.
• Shaping the environment may encourage
behavior change. This may include providing
opportunities for behavioral change, assisting with
those changes, and offering social support.
It is important to recognize environmental
constraints that might deter behavior change.
Theory of Planned Behavior, The theory of
planned behavior suggests that behavior is
dependent on one’s intention to perform the
behavior. Intention is determined by an
individual’s attitude (beliefs and values about
the outcome of the behavior) and subjective
norms (beliefs about what other people think
the person should do or general social
pressure). Behavior is also determined by an
individual’s perceived behavioral control,
defined as an individual’s perceptions of their
ability or feelings of self-efficacy to perform
behavior. This relationship is typically
dependent on the type of relationship and the
nature of the situation.
How can this theory inform your practice?
• Intention has been shown to be the most
important variable in predicting behavior change,
suggesting that behaviors are often linked with
one’s personal motivation.8 This suggests that it
may be important to present information to help
shape positive attitudes towards the behavior and
stress subjective norms or opinions that support
the behavior.
• For perceived behavioral control to influence
behavior change, much like with self-efficacy, a
person must perceive that they have the ability to
perform the behavior. Therefore, as Grizzel7
suggests, perceived control over opportunities,
resources, and skills needed is an important part
of the change process.
Problem Behavior Theory
Problem behavior theory (PBT) is a social-
psychological framework that helps to explain the
development and nature of problem behaviors, Jessor
(1987) described problem behavior as any behavior
that deviates from both social and legal norms. The
model comprises three systems of psychosocial
influences: personality system (all social cognitions,
personal values, expectations, beliefs, and values),
perceived environmental system (family and peer
expectations), and the behavior system (problem and
conventional behavioral structures that work in
opposition to each other).
The three systems of the PBT each utilize different
variables that either influence the problem to occur or
decrease the likelihood of the behavior taking place.
For each individual, when predicting a problem
behavior, the conventional-unconventional behaviors
of the individual are taken into consideration
(Donovan, Jessor, & Costa, 1991).
Donovan et al. (1991) defined conventional behaviors
as actions that are socially approved behaviors; while
unconventional behaviors are defined as any
behavior that deviates from social norms. By
analyzing conventional-unconventional behaviors in
each of the three psychosocial systems in an
individual, it allows a prediction on future behaviors
to be made.
Benefits /Need for Behavior Modification
The direct benefit of behavior modification is
improving the quality of life. Meanwhile, the
specific benefits of the treatment vary
depending on the specific condition being
treated. These benefits may include:
Improved social skills
Fewer emotional outbursts
Better functioning in unfamiliar situations
Reduced incidents of self-harm
The ability to recognize the need of medical
help
Better pain management
Improvement in emotional expressions
Games that Influence behaviour
[Link]:
Basketball is a sport which demands discipline. You ought to
follow the rules and follow them correctly. in order to be
good at this game you need to be extremely disciple and
dedicated. This sport helps build sportsmanship, helps
become obedient, needs you to be more humble and
friendly with your fellow players. this game also influences
the mood of the person and he/she can get rid of his/her
stress. it is an intense game and therefore the player will
have to control his emotions and frustration while playing.
he will be able to lash out on his opponents. All these factors
influence a person's behavior and enables him to modify his
behavior rightly.
2. Chess:
Chess enables you to enter a flow state.
Chess is a game which requires high level
of concentration and in order to
concentrate the player needs to have a
clear mind. He needs to calm down. for a
person with anxiety issues or anger issues
chess helps them to think patiently and
plan his strategies. No matter how serious
the game gets it requires you to stay
calm, patient and focused.
[Link] said, I heard :
The influence of roleplay on behavior is
interesting in its own ways. You said i heard is a
roleplay game where two individuals take up
each other's roles. For instance when two
individuals or two kids get into a conflict and
when they roleplay each other, the person is
able to see their mistakes as the other person
enacts it out. When you are angry you don't
how your reactions effect the other person,
but when you are subjected to the same thing
you become aware of your behavior towards
the other person. This makes you realize the
flaws in your behavior and it instills the need
for change within you.
THANK YOU!
RESHMI.R
MC216053