About Positive Behavior Modification Plans

Positive behavior modification plans help both children and adults make changes in their behaviors to improve the quality of their lives. Parents and teachers use positive behavior support plans for insubordinate children, and mental health workers utilize behavior modification plans for detrimental adults. If you need change, or feel that you are struggling with a bad habit, you can outline your own behavior modification plan or ask a professional such as a teacher or coach to make one for you.

History

In the early 1900s, psychologists working in the area of behavior psychology formed several theories about behavior and conditioning. John Watson formulated Behaviorism, believing that behavior is not the reaction to emotion or instinct. Later, he recanted and agreed with Ivan Pavlov's study on dogs, proving that behavior conditioning worked with dogs. With those theories to work with, Frederic Skinner found that humans could modify their behaviors with reinforcement and conditioning (see Resources below).

Function

A behavior modification plan is a contract between the person who needs to change behaviors, such as a child or patient, and someone who will oversee the plan, such as a teacher or mental health worker. The goal-oriented contract identifies what behavior needs changing and what tasks to complete to make those changes. The plan usually consists of a point or grade scale that identifies the participant's success in completing the goals, and rewards him with an agreeable incentive.

Types

There are as many types of behavior modification plans as there are bad habits or other negative behaviors. Some types of behavior modification plans include using techniques such as the Successive Approximation Principle, where the participant can learn to withdraw offending behavior before it begins, such as a smoker with sudden anxiety about to look for a cigarette. Other plans may use the Continuous Reinforcement Principle, where the participant receives constant rewards and praise, which is appropriate for school-aged children.

Time Frame

The professional or other person overseeing the participant's plan must review the goals on a regular basis. Weekly contracts work better for teens and adults, but hourly or daily contracts work better for children. Once the participant agrees to the contract, the participant can only make changes after the goal period for the plan. For instance, if an adult accepts a behavior modification plan that resets on a weekly basis, changes to the plan do not occur during the current contract, but before setting the next week's contract. This provides the participant a steady, rigid plan so the participant does not excuse the goals or fall off track.

Misconceptions

Negative reinforcement may be part of a positive behavior modification program. Negative reinforcement is not a punishment, but rather rewards positive behavior by taking away something as an incentive. For example, if a child successfully completes a goal or task, taking away a night of homework or a chore is a way of rewarding them. For a mental health patient, negative reinforcement may include taking away part of a tuition bill or other duties owed.

Warning

Not every psychological theory works well for everyone, so professionals work with multiple theories to find the method that works best for each of their patients. Sometimes positive behavior modification programs interfere with maintaining positive behavior after the plan's completion. The participant may not sustain positive behavior unless she receives a reward, and may disregard the consequences that may come from negative behavior. The participant may have a difficult time with the transition from a structured modification plan to an unmonitored situation outside of a plan.

Resources

• Frederic Skinner
• Ivan Pavlov