Behavior change refers to any transformation or modification of human behavior. Such changes can occur intentionally, through behavior modification, without intention, or change rapidly in situations of mental illness.
Rapid changes in behavior patterns may be a sign of mental illness requiring emergency psychiatric intervention.[1] Symptoms of such changes may include panic attacks, extreme agitation, violence, or other destructive outbursts.[1]
Behavior modification is a technique of altering an individual's behaviors and reactions to stimuli through positive and negative reinforcement of adaptive behavior and/or the extinction of maladaptive behavior through positive and negative punishment.