Behavior Modification

If you've had any psychology, you'll recall the one simple concept that dictates the way we behave, and the way we get other people to behave. Behavior Modification. It's now a recognized type of therapy, but anyone can do it. We actually do it everyday and don't realize it.

Behavior Modification is the systematic application of what has been learned by an individual, and facilitation of the behavior you want. This includes reinforcement to obtain desired behavior, and extinction of unwanted behaviors.

Behavior works best when the person who needs to make the changes actually agrees, and when he/she assist with the development of goals. However, the technique can still be applied even if the individual has not agreed.

For example,  in the education system, elementary teachers state what the classroom procedures and rules are, then they reinforce the students' good behaviors with stickers, toys, special privileges, etc. When the students break rules (engage in negative behavior), the teacher does not give stickers, toys, or special privileges. The students learn that if they want the "rewards", they must behave according to the rules.

Sometimes punishment is used to get certain behaviors. This is when positive reinforcers are removed (like recess, free time, other privileges).  

How else can this technique be applied? I think of relationships. I also think of the book by Dr. Gary Chapman, The Five Love Languages. In the book, he theorizes that people have certain "love languages". These are Acts of Service, Giving Gifts, Quality Time, Physical Touch, and Words of Affirmation. When one partner engages in behaviors that are favorable to the other person (speak his/her love language), the original party will get what he/she wants (his/her own love language).

Example, if Susan really wants Quality Time from Ray (because that's her love language), she may try Words of Affirmation, which is Ray's love language. It's reciprocal.

I also think about everyday situations, like a desire to have children or adults act a certain way, so we would reinforce the behaviors we wanted. Negative behaviors can be ignored (which would be a negative reinforcement---something removed----the positive reinforcement is removed). By ignoring behavior, we would still get the behaviors we want, typically.

If I see a child having a tantrum, kicking, screaming, and cursing, the best thing for me to do is to step right over him/her and ignore the behavior. When the child behaves well at dinner time by eating his/her veggies and clearing the plate from the table, the parent should reinforce the positive behaviors by using words of affirmation during all of dinner (thank you, please, etc.).

I've simplified the concept of behavior modification. There are definitely more elements to it (generalized reinforcers, back-up reinforcers, etc.). There's also the concept of Cognitive Behavior Modification. I won't get into that during this post; but please note that one of the primary types of therapy is cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Read up on it. Here are some books (besides college text books) on the subject.

Ms. Erin