Definition of Behavior Modification

Behavior modification is the process of positively changing behavior. It has been successfully used on dogs, parrots, cats and humans of all ages. It is informally used every day by teachers, parents and babysitters, but formal, psychologist-led behavior modification is generally applied to children with special needs and learning disabilities, as well as to adults with a range of mental disorders.

History

The first behavior modification experiments were carried out in the early 1900s by Russian Ivan Pavlov. The classic example is his dog -- every time Pavlov rang a bell, he'd feed the dog. Eventually, the dog would salivate every time the bell rang, even when there was no food on offer, as he was conditioned to associate food with the bell. This was the first behavior modification to follow scientific conventions.

Principles

Behavior modification's defining principle is simplicity. A behaviorist ignores the subject and focuses purely on his, her or its behavior. What is the behavior? What causes it? What happens after the behavior? These are called antecedents, behaviors, and responses. By sufficiently altering the antecedent, the response or both, the behavior will theoretically change. Eventually, as the behavior changes, the altered antecedents and/or responses will be phased out and the subject, like Pavlov's dog's salivating, will perform the behavior by association alone.

Practice

Effective behavior modification is ideally carried out with a 5:1 ratio of positive to negative responses. Positive behaviors are praised, and while negative behaviors are punished, most are ignored. Over time, the positive behaviors will overtake the negative ones.

Problems

The biggest problem with behavior modification is the overuse of punishments. This teaches the subject not to change her behavior, but rather to avoid getting caught, as he or she has not been effectively taught that there is a positive response for positive behavior. This is why the 5:1 ratio is so important.

Criticism

An ethical criticism of behavior modification is that it is a form of control. Some argue that it is nobody's right to deliberately alter another person's behavior. It is beyond the scope of this article to address this criticism, but it is important to acknowledge that it exists.

Everyday Application

Behavior modification is informally used by parents, teachers, therapists, husbands, wives, prison guards and flight attendants. Essentially everyone who actively tries to change another person's behavior is practicing behavior modification. Generously tipping a waitress for exceptional service is a positive response, as are the ubiquitous star charts on kindergarten walls. By contrast, tipping a nickel or sternly speaking to a misbehaving child are both negative responses.

Professional Application

Professionals--therapists, social workers, and psychologists--are considerably more methodical in their behavior modification strategies than are amateurs. They often rigorously follow the 5:1 ratio mentioned above, and ensure they address the correct response or antecedent connected to the behavior in question. If it is a particularly complex behavior, they utilize a process called "chaining," in which they scientifically break a behavior down into antecedents and responses by observing and discussing it and its subject.

Professional behavior modification is generally used on extremely challenging children, often with special needs (autism in particular). It is also used on adults with addiction, anxiety, and depression problems, although for these patients it tends to focus on internal antecedents rather than external responses; it is not generally appropriate to reward an adult with a piece of candy or punish him with a time-out. Rather, adult behavior modification relies on examining what situations trigger the emotions that result in negative behaviors, and teaching him or her to avoid those situations.

Resources

• ISADD