Behavior modification

Behavior modification is the use of empirically demonstrated behavior change techniques to improve behavior, such as altering an individual's behaviors and reactions to stimuli through positive and negative reinforcement of adaptive behavior and/or the reduction of maladaptive behavior through positive and negative punishment."

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Description

The first use of the term behavior modification appears to have been by R. I. Watson,^[1] who used it to refer to psychotherapeutic techniques derived from empirical research. It has since come to refer mainly to techniques for increasing adaptive behavior through reinforcement and decreasing maladaptive behavior through punishment (with emphasis on the former). Two related terms are behavior therapy and applied behavior analysis. Emphasizing the empirical roots of behavior modification, some authors^[2] consider it to be broader in scope and to subsume the other two categories of behavior change methods. Since techniques derived from behavioral psychology tend to be the most effective in altering behavior, most practitioners consider behavior modification along with behavior therapy and applied behavior analysis to be founded in behaviorism. While behavior modification encompasses applied behavior analysis and typically uses interventions based on the same behavioral principles, many behavior modifiers who are not applied behavior analysts tend to use packages of interventions and do not conduct functional assessments before intervening.

In recent years, the concept of punishment has had many critics, though these critiques tend not to apply to negative punishment (time-outs) and usually apply to the addition of some aversive event. The use of positive punishment by board-certified behavior analysts is restricted to extreme circumstances when all other forms of treatment have failed and when the behavior to be modified is a danger to the person or to others. In clinical settings positive punishment is usually restricted using a spray bottle filled with water as an aversive event. When mis-used, extreme punishment can lead to affective (emotional) disorders, as well as to the target of the punishment eventually focusing only on avoiding punishment (i.e., "not getting caught") rather than improving behavior.

Pear and Martin indicate that there are seven characteristics to behavior modification,^[2] They are:

• There is a strong emphasis on defining problems in terms of behavior that can be measured in some way.

• The treatment techniques are ways of altering an individuals current environment to help that individual function more fully.

• The methods and rationales can be described precisely.

• The techniques are often applied in everyday life.

• The techniques are based largely on principles of learning - specifically operant and respondent (or Pavlovian or classical) conditioning.

• There is a strong emphasis on scientific demonstration that a particular technique was responsible for a particular behavior change.

• There is a strong emphasis on accountability for everyone involved in a behavior modification program.

Techniques

Therapy and consultation cannot be effective unless the behaviors to be changed are understood within a specific context.^[3][4] The process of understanding behavior in context is called functional behavioral assessment.^[5] Therefore, a functional behavioral assessment is needed before performing behavior modification. One of the most simple yet effective methods of functional behavioral assessment is called the "ABC" approach, where observations are made on Antecedents, Behaviors, and Consequences. In other words, "What comes directly before the behavior?", "What does the behavior look like?", and "What comes directly after the behavior?" Once enough observations are made, the data are analyzed and patterns are identified. If there are consistent antecedents and/or consequences, then an intervention should target them in order to increase or decrease the target behavior. This method has formed the core of positive behavior support for children in school from both regular education and special education.

Behavior modifiers like to employ a variety of evidenced-based techniques. These techniques intervene at all levels of context. For example, given specific setting events for a behavior, a behavior modifier may develop a neutralizing routine to eliminate that setting. If a behavior pattern has a specific antecedent of trigger, then an antecedent control strategy can be developed to train new behavior in the presence of the trigger. If a problem behavior readily occurs because it achieves some function, then an alternative behavior can be instructed and trained to occur in the context of the trigger.^[6][7] If a behavior is particularly complex it may be task-analyzed and broken into its component parts to be taught through chaining. While all these methods are effective, when the behavior problem gets difficult or when all else fails many turn to contingency management systems.^[8] Complex and comprehensive contingency management systems have been developed and represent effective ways to eliminate many problem behaviors (see applied behavior analysis and positive behavior support). Collabortive goal setting with the client enhances treatment effects^[9].

Some areas of effectiveness

Functional behavior assessment forms the core of applied behavior analysis and thus forms the core of behavior modification. Many techniques in this therapy are specific techniques aimed at specific issues. Interventions based on behavior analytic/modification principles have been extremely effective in developing evidence-based treatments.^[10]

In addition to the above, a growing list of researched-based interventions from the behavioral paradigm exists. With children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, one study showed that over a several year period, children in the behavior modification group had half the number of felony arrests as children in the medication group.^[11][12] These findings remain to be replicated but are considered encouraging for the use of behavior modification for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Behavior modification programs form the core of many residential treatment facility programs. (In wikipedia these link under Behavior Modification Facility.) They have shown success in reducing recividism for adolescents with conduct problems. One particular program that is of interest is 'teaching-family homes', which is based on a social learning model that emerged from radical behaviorism. These particular homes use a family style approach to residential treatment, which has been carefully replicated over 700 times.^[13]

One area that has repeatedly shown effectiveness has been the work of behaviorists working in the area of community reinforcement for addictions.^[14] Another area of research that has been strongly supported has been behavioral activation for depression.^[15]

One way of giving positive reinforcement in behavior modification is in providing compliments, approval, encouragement, and affirmation; a ratio of five compliments for every one complaint is generally seen as being effective in altering behavior in a desired manner^[16] and even producing a stable marraige. ^[17]

Of notable interest is that the right behavioral intervention can have profound system effects. For example, Forgatch and DeGarmo (2007) found that with mothers who were recently divorced a standard round of parent management training (a program based on social learning principles that teaches rewarding good behavior and punishing bad behavior combined with communication skills) could help elevate the divorced mother out of poverty.^[18] In addition, parent management training programs sometimes referred to as behavioral parent training programs have shown relative cost effectiveness for their efforts^[19] for the treatment of conduct disorder. Thus, such intervention can have profound effects on socializing the child in a relatively cost effective fashion and help elevate the parent from poverty. This level of effect is often looked for and valued by those who practice behavioral engineering and results of this type have caused the Association for Behavior Analysis International to take a position that those receiving treatment have a right to effective treatmentABA:I and a right to effective education.ABA:I

Criticism

Behavior modification is critiqued in person-centered psychotherapeutic approaches such as Rogerian Counseling and Re-evaluation Counseling.[5] The argument is that these methods involve connecting with the human qualities of the person to promote healing and that behaviorism is denigrating to the human spirit.^[20] Skinner argued against this position in Beyond Freedom and Dignity by arguing that unrestricted reinforcement is what led to the "feeling of freedom" and thus removal of aversive events would allow people to "feel freer"^[21] Further criticism extends to the presumption that behavior increases only when it is reinforced. This premise is at odds with research conducted by Albert Bandura at Stanford University. His findings indicate that violent behavior is imitated, without being reinforced, in studies conducted with children watching films showing various individuals 'beating the daylights out of Bobo'. Bandura believes that human personality and learning is the result of the interaction between environment, behavior and psychological process. There is evidence, however, that imitation is a class of behavior that can be learned just like anything else. Children have been shown to imitate behavior that they have never displayed before and are never reinforced for, after being taught to imitate in general.^[22]

Several people have criticized the level of training required to perform behavior modification procedures. Some desire to limit such restrictive procedures only to licensed psychologist or licensed counselors. Still others desire to create an independent practice of behavior analysis to offeronsumers choices between proven techniques and unproven ones (see Professional practice of behavior analysis). Level of training and consumer protection remain of critical importance in applied behavior analysis and behavior modification.

While behavior analysis continues to grow as a science by including more environmental factors and behaviorism grows as a philosophy, some continue to criticize it for being reductionist.

See also

• Applied Behavioural Analysis
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• John B. Watson
• Ivan Pavlov
• B. F. Skinner
• Behavior modification facility
• Sociology
• Conditioning
• Covert conditioning
• Classical conditioning
• Operant conditioning
• Covert conditioning
• Beyond Freedom and Dignity
• Life coaching
• A Clockwork Orange

References