Empowered Parenting through
Behavior Modification
Understanding Behavior Modification
• Behavior is anything your child does —
wanted or unwanted.
• Behavior modification focuses on why
behaviors happen and how to change them.
• Instead of 'Stop that!', ask: What happened
before? What did they gain? What can we
teach?
Core Assumptions — What We Believe
About Behavior
• 1. Behavior is learned (e.g., tantrum → candy
→ repeated).
• 2. Behavior can be unlearned (e.g., backtalk →
no attention → fades).
• 3. Behavior is shaped by consequences.
• 4. Focus on the present behavior and its
pattern.
Session 3: Classical vs. Operant
Conditioning
• Classical: Association (e.g., fear of needles →
hospital = fear).
• Operant: Consequence-based (e.g., clean
room → praise → repeat).
Session 4: The ABC Model – A Tool
for Everyday Parenting
• A – Antecedent: What happened before?
• B – Behavior: What did the child do?
• C – Consequence: What followed?
• Includes relatable age-based scenarios and
worksheet activity.
Session 5: Reinforcement – Your
Superpower
• Positive Reinforcement: Add a reward.
• Negative Reinforcement: Remove an
unpleasant task.
• Age-based examples for clarity and
application.
Session 6: Punishment – Use with
Caution
• Positive: Add something unpleasant (e.g.,
yelling).
• Negative: Take away something pleasant (e.g.,
grounding).
• Encourage alternatives like time-outs and
reinforcement.
Session 7: Schedules of
Reinforcement
• Fixed Ratio, Variable Ratio, Fixed Interval,
Variable Interval.
• Pro Tip: Random rewards work best for long-
term behavior change.
Extinction, Extinction Burst & Spontaneous
Recovery
• Extinction: Remove the reward → behavior
fades.
• Extinction Burst: Behavior gets worse before
disappearing.
• Spontaneous Recovery: Old behavior may
reappear briefly.
Generalization and Discrimination
• Generalization: Behavior spreads to new
settings.
• Discrimination: Child learns when behavior is
appropriate.