Behavior modification


 * This article is about the behaviorist technique. For the Cognitive therapy, see behavior therapy

Behavior Modification is a technique of altering an individuals reactions to stimuli through positive reinforcement and the extinction of maladaptive behavior.

While founded in behaviorism, Behavior modification has long been used by psychotherapists, parents, and caretakers of the disabled, generally without any underlying behaviorist philosophy. It involves the most basic of methods to alter human behavior, such as reward and punishment, aversion therapy, reinforcement, and even biofeedback. The cultivation of life skills are often a central focus.

Analysis of the patients thoughts are not required, but many non-behaviorists feel the therapy can be powerfully improved with such cognitive analysis. Punishment is also frowned upon in many contexts, with extinction of conditioned reflexes often in its place.

A major focus of Behavior modification is giving compliments, approval, encouragement and affirmation; a ratio of 5 compliments for every one complaint is found to be most effectual in altering another's behavior in a desired manner.

Behavior-based approaches to improving occupational safety performance focus on the study of safety behaviors before and after various interventions to the safety behavior of the individuals involved. The three items for introduction of a behavior-based system are: antecedent, behavior and consequence (ABC). According to behavior modification theory, worker behavior may be influenced by systematically reinforcing the right behavior until a new habit if formed.

In addition to behaviorism and psychiatry where the subject is considered as being a totally independent being with no context, we need to consider psychotherapy, sociology and ancient wisdom, including religion where people are viewing as being in a social context.

From a sociological point-of-view, if punishment is too harsh or the withholding of rewards is too harsh, the subject may seem to be corrected of the maladaptive behavior by scientific measurements, but if a bad example is set -- as described in social learning theory. This bad example and the bad feelings that are a result, as in causing an affective disorder (i.e. an emotiional disorder), the subject could cause the re-infliction of punishment as a chain reaction in society. The punishment and the bad feelings that result may spread through society and be the cause of a contagious reaction referred to as social illness.

There are those who believe that much of psychology is less important than ancient wisdom. This philosophy is stated succincly as "Men are learned and they think themselves wise." Those who are well-educated in the social sciences, should not forget ancient wisdom.

For example a good example of ancient religious wisdom is, "Do unto others as you would have done unto you."

Ancient wisdom from many cultures states that mind, body, and spirit are one. Also, none of us live in isolation. Isolation can be an opportunity for a subject to be protected from being over-stimulated, but solitary confinment, in contrast, could be a punishment. Solitary Confinment could be too harsh. The difference is to consider what the subject needs. Deciding what the subject needs requires good judgement. Good judgement requires perception and intuition on behalf of the authority figure.

It's easy to critisize authority figures, but often times they may be overwhelmed and do the wrong thing. Caretakers need to have breaks to meditate and relax with frequent breaks of leisure activity, depending upon their stress levels.

There is a cost associated with caretakers having more breaks and longer breaks, but not to do this has a cost too. We have to consider false economy. It is very costly to our societies if people are treated badly by those in authority. It is very costly if Corrections officers are over-stressed. Similiarly, those that work in our psychiatric in-patient institutions need to be well-chosen by human resource departments. In addition, they also need to have frequent breaks and need to have sufficient manpower to control their patients without resorting to detrimental behaviors, that might be a bad example to the patients, who might propogate these bad behaviors to society upon their eventual release.

Most in-patients are released and can contribute to society. It would be a great burden on society if they were all locked up for life. We simply cannot afford that cost.

Also of great importance is that authorities, those that have the power to reward, to withhold rewards, or to have the power to punish, set a good example for the subject that they are trying to influence.

Just as important as influencing the subject to behave as desired is to have the subject thinking right, cognitively and feeling well, affectively.

Ancient wisdom says that "As ye sow, so shall ye reap". This could be interpreted to mean, "Don't scare people -- as a punishment -- you will necessarily scare yourself, and the bad feeling may well spread like a disease through society as a reaction to your initial stimulus."

Another bit of ancient wisdom, there are three ways to teach, example, example, and example.