Behaviour Modification By: Anju Gautam

What is a Behaviour?

 “The actions or reactions of a person in response to external or internal stimuli; conduct; manners or deportment, especially good manners; general course of life; treatment of others; manner of action; the activity of an organism, especially as measurable for its effects; response to stimulus; the functioning, response or activity of an object or substance.”

Root Causes of Behaviour Differences

Individual differences

Differences in family patterns

Impairment/disabilities

Environmental factors

Psychological factors

Activity: Influences in Behaviour

1. What contribution did your family make to your behaviour?

2. What role should you play as a teacher to help develop

acceptable behaviour?

3. Discuss your findings with a friend.

Behaviour modification Principle

Systematic application of learning principles and techniques to assess and improve individuals covert and overt behaviors in order to help them function more fully in society

Characteristics of Behavior Modification Emphasized defining and measuring behavior Treatment focuses greatly on the environment. Methods and rationales can be described

precisely. Most techniques are based on research on

learning Emphasizes scientific method Accountability is placed on everyone involved

Misconceptions about Behavior

Modification Rewards and reinforcement are

nothing more than bribes.

It is drug

It only changes symptoms not

underlying problems.

Can be applied to simple, but not

complex problems

Behavior analysts are cold non-

empathetic people.

Behavior modifiers deal only with

observable behavior.

Behavior modification is outdated

Areas Of Application:

•Parenting

•Educational institutions

•Clinical settings

•Self Management

•Medical and Health care

•Business, Government and Industry

Identification of Behavior Modification Behavior modification principles and practices are used to assist individuals with

developing new, desirable behaviors while eliminating behaviors that are no

longer useful. The techniques used are based on a branch of psychology

called behavioral theory. Behavioral theory is based on two areas of study

that took place in the 20th century. Classical conditioning--developed by

Ivan P. Pavlov--focused on stimulus-response patterns. Operant

conditioning--developed by B. F. Skinner--added positive and negative

reinforcement practices to the stimulus-response model.

Stages of Behavior Modification

Behavior modification is based on two types of theories. One involves

antecedents i.e. events which occur before a particular behavior is

demonstrated and the other is observable behavior i.e. those events that

occur after a particular behavior has been occurred. A behavior modification

technique is applicable only after a series of changes. An inappropriate

behavior is observed, identified, targeted, and stopped. Meanwhile, a new,

appropriate behavior must be identified, developed, strengthened, and

maintained.

Techniques Of Behaviour Modification

There are five categories of activities that can be addressed with behavior modification techniques

Develop a new behavior

Strengthen a behavior

Maintain an established behavior

Stop inappropriate behavior, stop , stop….

Techniques Contd…….

Class room monitoring

Role playing and modeling

Moral education

Social Problem Solving (SPS): Direct teaching of SPS skills

(e.g. alternative thinking, means-ends thinking), dialoguing,

self-instruction training

Techniques contd……..

Successive Approximation Principle

Continuous Reinforcement Principle

Punishment

This technique is used to teach the child a new behavior or concept he or she has not learned, by rewarding successive steps to the desired behavior.

When teaching new behaviors or tasks that a child has not learned, use an immediate reward after each correct performance. This technique is much the same as the first, but this time you'll be expecting the behavior to be exact instead of somethingclose to that

Process of reducing behavior by immediately presenting an aversive condition contingent upon a response that results in a decrease in the frequency of that response.

Negative Reinforcement Principle

Modeling Principle

Some children need more work than others to acquire good behavior, but this technique of behavior modification can be used for every child at times of resistance and normal childhood rebellion. By giving the child choices, you are teaching him to make good decisions by offering a choice of consequences for good and bad behavior

When the teacher notes a few of her students misbehaving, a good behavior modification technique is to verbally praise the children who are behaving appropriately. This sends a message to the ones you're trying to teach. This technique works very well with younger children who adore the attention of adults

Cue Principle

Decreasing Reinforcement

To teach a child to remember a learned behavior, give a cue for the correct performance or behavior, just before the action is expected. This helps to avoid misbehavior and especially with the child who is more likely to misbehave without reminding

This technique is also called, "extinguishing." You want the child to behave appropriately, even without a reward, so once the new behavior has been learned through its rewards, it's time to slowly decrease the rewards to encourage greater expectations.

Avoidance Principle

Extinction

To teach a child to avoid a certain type of situation, simultaneously present to the child the situation to be avoided and some aversive condition (or its representation).

The principle of extinction works by removing or changing what happens after the behavior takes place. In effect, the incentive or reward that motivates a person to carry out a certain behavior is taken away. When this happens over and over again, the motivation to indulge in a certain behavior begins to fade or extinct……

Systematic Desensitization

(Fear Reduction Principle)

Biofeedback

Systematic desensitization is a behavior modification practice used to eliminate fears or undesirable emotions. An example of this practice would be removing a person's fear of public speaking. Speaking in front of a small group of friends or family might be a first step. The person then gradually works up to speaking in front of a larger group of strangers or associates.

Biofeedback is a method that provides immediate feedback on a person's physiological state, be it heart rate, breathing rate or blood pressure. Feedback is provided by a mechanical device that lets the person know when a particular symptom is present.

Shaping the behaviour

Shaping behavior is the aspect of behavior analysis that is the

“teaching of behaviors that are not in the student’s existing

repertoire?. It involves clearly defining a behavioral objective with a

target behavior, delivering or withholding reinforcement at the

appropriate time, and thus, being able to shape the student into

“gradual successive approximations of the target behavior

Maintaining Discipline in the Classroom Specify a clear and concrete set of

classroom rules. In some cases, involve the students in the formulation of rules, so that they have a sense of ownership.

Specify a clear set of consequences for rule violations – 3 change plan (warning, warning, consequence)

Ignore the behaviour

Positive re- inforcement

Be Assertive

Consultation with therapists