Behavioral modification

What is behavior?

Behavior is the way a person acts towards people, society or objects, it can be either good or bad, it can be normal or abnormal according to the view of society and society will always try to correct bad behavior and to bring abnormal behavior back to normal.

There are a few root causes that makes behavior differences, such as, individual differences (people set in their ways) family patterns, impairment, environment factors and psychological factors.  When behavior becomes a problem behavioral modification is essential.

Behavioral modification is the use of observed demonstrated behavior change techniques to increase adaptive behavior through reinforcement and/or the reduction of maladaptive behavior through extinction, punishment or therapy.

Before a behavioral modification could be performed, a functional behavioral assessment must be done in order to understand the behavior.  In order to understand the behavior, an ABC approach method is used and that is the observations of antecedents, behaviors, and consequences that take place.  What this means is before the behavior is assess, you need to know what came directly before the behavior, what does the behavior look like and what comes directly after the behavior.

Functional behavior assessment forms the core of applied behavior analysis and thus forms the core of behavior modification.  Many of the techniques used are aimed at specific issues.

Behavior modification programs form the core of many residential treatment facility programs and have been effective in the reduction of relapses in adolescent with conduct problems as well as adult offenders.  One area which has repeatedly shown effectiveness is the behaviorist work at rehab centers for addiction.

One way of giving positive reinforcement in behavior modification is in providing compliments, approval, encouragement and affirmation.  A ratio of five to one in regard to compliment to complaint is effective in altering behavior in a desired manner and has even improved many marriages.

When a behavior is too difficult to deal with, other techniques like contingency management systems which is a type of treatment used in mental health or substance abuse fields, is applied and it comes from applied behavior analysis and that is an observation of behavior in relation to environment, it focuses on the rules by which humans adapt and maintain behavior.

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