Behavior modification

Short description: Treatment approach using behavioral conditioning

Behavior modification is a treatment approach that uses respondent and operant conditioning to change behavior. Based on methodological behaviorism,[1] overt behavior is modified with (antecedent) stimulus control and consequences, including positive and negative reinforcement contingencies to increase desirable behavior, or administering positive and negative punishment and/or extinction to reduce problematic behavior.[2][3][4] It also uses systematic desensitization and flooding to combat phobias.

Applied behavior analysis (ABA)—the application of behavior analysis—is a contemporary application and is based on radical behaviorism, which refers to B. F. Skinner's viewpoint that cognition and emotions are covert behavior that are to be subjected to the same conditions as overt behavior.

## Contents

* 1 Description and history
* 2 Areas of effectiveness
* 2.1 Children with ADHD
* 2.2 Uncontrollable diabetes Type 2
* 2.3 Residential treatment
* 2.4 Weight loss outcomes
* 2.5 Addictions
* 2.6 Depression
* 2.7 Job performance
* 3 Criticism
* 4 See also
* 5 References
* 6 External links

## Description and history

The first use of the term behavior modification appears to have been by Edward Thorndike in 1911. His article Provisional Laws of Acquired Behavior or Learning makes frequent use of the term "modifying behavior".[5] Through early research in the 1940s and the 1950s the term was used by Joseph Wolpe's research group.[6] The experimental tradition in clinical psychology used it to refer to psycho-therapeutic techniques derived from empirical research.[7] In the 1960s, behavior modification operated on stimulus-response-reinforcement framework (S-R-SR), emphasizing the concept of 'transactional' explanations of behavior.[8] It has since come to refer mainly to techniques for increasing adaptive behavior through reinforcement and decreasing maladaptive behavior through extinction or punishment (with emphasis on the former).

In recent years, the concept of punishment has had many critics, though these criticisms 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 (see professional practice of behavior analysis). In clinical settings positive punishment is usually restricted to using a spray bottle filled with water as an aversive event. When misused, more aversive punishment can lead to affective (emotional) disorders, as well as to the receiver of the punishment increasingly trying to avoid the punishment (i.e., "not get caught")..

Behavior modification relies on the following:

* Reinforcement (positive and negative)
* Punishment (positive and negative)
* Extinction
* Shaping
* Fading
* Chaining

## Areas of effectiveness

Functional behavior assessment forms the core of applied behavior analysis. Many techniques in this therapy are specific techniques aimed at specific issues. Interventions based on behavior analytic principles have been extremely effective in developing evidence-based treatments.[9] In addition to the above, a growing list of research-based interventions from the behavioral paradigm exist.

### Children with ADHD

For children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), 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.[10][11] These findings have yet to be replicated, but are considered encouraging for the use of behavior modification for children with ADHD. There is strong and consistent evidence that behavioral treatments are effective for treating ADHD. A recent meta-analysis found that the use of behavior modification for ADHD resulted in effect sizes in between group studies (.83), pre-post studies (.70), within group studies (2.64), and single subject studies (3.78) indicating behavioral treatments are highly effective.[12]

### Uncontrollable diabetes Type 2

Drawing upon Bandura's self-efficacy theory, which has proven effective in programs aimed at promoting health-related behavioral modifications in adults with diabetes, various interventions have been implemented. These interventions incorporate group counseling, group discussions, and an empowerment process, all geared towards encouraging individuals to adopt healthy dietary practices, adhere to medication regimens, and engage in regular exercise, with the goal of improving glycemic levels. Notably, the outcomes of these programs have demonstrated promising advancements, with improvements observed in self-efficacy and trends towards significance in hemoglobin A1c levels.[13]

### Residential treatment

Behavior modification programs form the core of many residential treatment facility programs. They have shown success in reducing recidivism for adolescents with conduct problems and adult offenders. One particular program that is of interest is teaching-family homes (see Teaching Family Model), 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.[14] Recent efforts have seen a push for the inclusion of more behavior modification programs in residential re-entry programs in the U.S. to aid prisoners in re-adjusting after release.

### Weight loss outcomes

Research has shown effectiveness for obese people who binge eat. One program called the Trevose Behavior Modification Program (TBMP) is an accessible self-help weight loss program that emphasizes ongoing care. TBMP, administered and directed by non-professionals, has demonstrated remarkable success in facilitating substantial and lasting weight loss. This program not only offers the advantage of being cost-effective but also provides continuous support. Notably, individuals with and without frequent binge eating have achieved significant long-term weight loss through TBMP's continuing care approach.[15]

### Addictions

One area that has repeatedly shown effectiveness has been the work of behaviorists working in the area of community reinforcement for addictions.[16]

### Depression

Another area of research that has been strongly supported has been behavioral activation for depression.[17]

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[18] and even in producing stable marriages.[19]

### Job performance

Based on the conceptual premises of classical behaviorism and reinforcement theory, the Organizational behavior management (aka OBM) represents a behavioral approach to the management of human resources in organizational settings.[20] The application of reinforcement theory to modification of behavior as it relates to job performance first requires analysis of necessary antecedents (e.g., job design, training) of the desired behavior.[20] After it has been determined that the necessary antecedents are present, managers must first identify the behaviors to change. These behaviors must be observable, measurable, task-related, and critical to the task at hand. Next, a baseline measure of the behavior must be assessed and functional consequences analyzed.[20] Now that the link between the antecedent, behavior, and contingent consequences has been established, an intervention to change the behavior can be introduced. If the intervention is successful in modifying the behavior, it must be maintained using schedules of reinforcement and must be evaluated for performance improvement.[20] The OBM has been found to have a significant positive effect on task performance globally,[20][21] with performance on average increasing 17%.[22]

A study that examined the differential effects of incentive motivators administered with the OBM on job performance found that using money as a reinforcer with OBM was more successful at increasing performance compared to routine pay for performance (i.e., money administered on performance not using OBM).[23] The authors also found that using money administered through the OBM produced stronger effects (37% performance increase), compared to social recognition (24% performance increase) and performance feedback (20% performance increase).[23]

## Criticism

Behavior modification is critiqued in person-centered psychotherapeutic approaches such as Rogerian Counseling and Re-evaluation Counseling,[24] which involve "connecting with the human qualities of the person to promote healing", while behaviorism is "denigrating to the human spirit".[25] B.F. Skinner argues in Beyond Freedom and Dignity that unrestricted reinforcement is what led to the "feeling of freedom", thus removal of aversive events allows people to "feel freer".[26] 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.[27]

Several people[who?] have criticized the level of training required to perform behavior modification procedures, especially those that are restrictive or use aversives, aversion therapy, or punishment protocols. Some desire to limit such restrictive procedures only to licensed psychologists or licensed counselors. Once licensed for this group, post-licensed certification in behavior modification is sought to show scope of competence in the area through groups like the World Association for Behavior Analysis.[28] Still others desire to create an independent practice of behavior analysis through licensure to offer consumers 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.

## See also

* Applied behavior analysis
* Behavior management
* Behavior therapy
* Classical conditioning
* Cognitive behavioral therapy
* Cognitive bias modification
* Conversion therapy
* Decoupling for body-focused repetitive behaviors
* Covert conditioning
* Habit Reversal Training
* Life coaching
* Pain model of behaviour management
* Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports
* Edward Thorndike
* John B. Watson
* Behaviorism

## References

1. ↑ Mahoney, M. J., Kazdin, A. E., & Lesswing, N. J.; Franks, C. M., Wilson, G. T. (1974). "Behavior modification: delusion or deliverance?". Annual Review of Behavior Therapy: Theory and Practice. 2. Brunner/Mazel. pp. 11–40.
2. ↑ Mace, F. C. (1994). "The significance and future of functional analysis methodologies". Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 27 (2): 385–92. doi:10.1901/jaba.1994.27-385. PMID 16795830.
3. ↑ Pelios, L., Morren, J., Tesch, D., and Axelrod, S. (1999). "The impact of functional analysis methodology on treatment choice for self-injurious and aggressive behavior". Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 32 (2): 185–95. doi:10.1901/jaba.1999.32-185. PMID 10396771.
4. ↑ Mace, F. C., and Critchfield, T. S. (2010). "Translational research in behavior analysis: Historical traditions and imperative for the future". J Exp Anal Behav 93 (3): 293–312. doi:10.1901/jeab.2010.93-293. PMID 21119847.
5. ↑ Thorndike, E.L. (1911). "Provisional Laws of Acquired Behavior or Learning". Animal Intelligence (New York: The Macmillan Company).
6. ↑ Wolpe, J. (1968). "Psychotheraphy by Reciprocal Inhibition". Conditional Reflex 3 (4): 234–240. doi:10.1007/BF03000093. PMID 5712667. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF03000093.
7. ↑ In Bachrach, A. J., ed (1962). Experimental Foundations of Clinical Psychology. New York: Basic Books. pp. 3–25. https://archive.org/details/experimentalfoun0000bach.
8. ↑ Keehn, J.D; Webster, C.D (February 1969). "Behavior Therapy and Behavior Modification". The Canadian Psychogist 10 (1): 68-73. doi:10.1037/h0082506.
9. ↑ O'Donohue, W.; Ferguson, K. E. (2006). "Evidence-Based Practice in Psychology and Behavior Analysis". The Behavior Analyst Today 7 (3): 335–52. doi:10.1037/h0100155.
10. ↑ Satterfield, J. H.; Satterfield, B. T.; Schell, A. M. (1987). "Therapeutic interventions to prevent delinquency in hyperactive boys". Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 26 (1): 56–64. doi:10.1097/00004583-198701000-00012. PMID 3584002.
11. ↑ Satterfield, J. H.; Schell, A. (1997). "A prospective study of hyperactive boys with conduct problems and normal boys: Adolescent and adult criminality". Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 36 (12): 1726–35. doi:10.1097/00004583-199712000-00021. PMID 9401334.
12. ↑ Fabiano, G. A.; Pelham Jr., W. E.; Coles, E. K.; Gnagy, E. M.; Chronis-Tuscano, A.; O'Connor, B. C. (2008). "A meta-analysis of behavioral treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder". Clinical Psychology Review 29 (2): 129–40. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2008.11.001. PMID 19131150.
13. ↑ Ounnapiruk, Liwan; Wirojratana, Virapun; Meehatchai, Nitaya; Turale, Sue (2014). "Effectiveness of a behavior modification program for older people with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes". Nursing & Health Sciences 16 (2): 216–223. doi:10.1111/nhs.12089. PMID 23991917. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12089.
14. ↑ Dean L. Fixsen, Karen A. Blasé, Gary D. Timbers and Montrose M. Wolf (2007) In Search of Program Implementation: 792 Replications of the Teaching-Family Model. Behavior Analyst Today Volume 8, No. 1, pp. 96–106 Behavior Analyst Online
15. ↑ Delinsky, Sherrie Selwyn; Latner, Janet D.; Wilson, G. Terence (2006). "Binge Eating and Weight Loss in a Self-Help Behavior Modification Program". Obesity 14 (7): 1244–1249. doi:10.1038/oby.2006.141. PMID 16899805.
16. ↑ Milford, J.L.; Austin, J.L.; Smith, J.E. (2007). Community Reinforcement and the Dissemination of Evidence-based Practice: Implications for Public Policy. IJBCT, 3(1), pp. 77–87 [1])
17. ↑ Spates, R.C.; Pagoto, S.; Kalata, A. (2006). "A Qualitative and Quantitative Review of Behavioral Activation Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder". The Behavior Analyst Today 7 (4): 508–17. doi:10.1037/h0100089. http://www.baojournal.com.
18. ↑ Kirkhart, Robert; Kirkhart, Evelyn (1972). "The Bruised Self: Mending in the Early Years". in Yamamoto, Kaoru. The Child and His File: Self Concept in the Early Years. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-395-12571-7. https://archive.org/details/childhisimagesel0000unse.
19. ↑ Gottman, J.M.; Levenson, R.W. (1999). "What predicts change in marital interaction over time? A study of alternative models". Family Process 38 (2): 143–58. doi:10.1111/j.1545-5300.1999.00143.x. PMID 10407716.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 Stajkovic, A. D., & Luthans, F. (1997). "A meta-analysis of the effects of organizational behavior modification on task performance, 1975-1995". The Academy of Management Journal 40 (5): 1122–1149. doi:10.2307/256929. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1184&context=managementfacpub.
21. ↑ Luthans, F., Stajkovic, A. D., Luthans, B. C., & Lutherans, K. W. (1998). "Applying Behavioral Management in Eastern Europe". European Management Journal 16 (4): 446–475. doi:10.1016/S0263-2373(98)00023-1.
22. ↑ Luthans, F., & Stajkovic, A. D. (1999). "Reinforce for performance: The need to go beyond pay and even rewards". Academy of Management Executive 13 (2): 49–57. doi:10.5465/ame.1999.1899548. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/managementfacpub/169.
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Stajkovic, A. D., & Luthans, F. (2001). "Differential effects of incentive motivators on work performance". Academy of Management Journal 4 (3): 580–590. doi:10.2307/3069372. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1175&context=managementfacpub. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
24. ↑ "Re-evaluation Counseling". http://www.rc.org/.
25. ↑ Holland, J.L. (1976). "A new synthesis for an old method and a new analysis of some old phenomena". The Counseling Psychologist 6 (3): 12–15. doi:10.1177/001100007600600303.
26. ↑ Skinner, B. F. (1974). Beyond Freedom and Dignity. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
27. ↑ D. Baer, R.F.; Peterson, J.A. Sherman Psychological Modeling: Conflicting Theories, 2006 [ISBN missing]
28. ↑ "World Center for Behavior Analysis". http://www.baojournal.com/WCBA/WCBA.html.

## External links

Library resources about
Behavior modification

* * *

* Resources in your library
* Resources in other libraries

* v
* t
* e

Cognitive behavioral therapy (list)

* Acceptance and commitment therapy
* Behavior therapy
* Behavioral activation
* Cognitive analytic therapy
* Cognitive therapy
* Compassion-focused therapy
* Contingency management
* Dialectical behavior therapy
* Direct therapeutic exposure
* Exposure and response prevention
* Functional analytic psychotherapy
* Habit reversal training
* Inference-based therapy
* Metacognitive therapy
* Method of levels
* Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
* Multimodal therapy
* Prolonged exposure therapy
* Rational emotive behavior therapy
* Reality therapy
* Relapse prevention
* Schema therapy
* Self-control therapy
* Social skills training
* Systematic desensitization

* v
* t
* e

Psychotherapy (list)

Schools|

| Psychodynamic|

* Psychoanalysis
* Adlerian therapy
* Analytical therapy
* Mentalization-based treatment
* Transference focused psychotherapy

|

Cognitive and
behavioral|

* Clinical behavior analysis
* Acceptance and commitment therapy
* Functional analytic psychotherapy
* Cognitive behavioral therapy
* Cognitive therapy
* Dialectical behavior therapy
* Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
* Rational emotive behavior therapy

Humanistic|

* Emotionally focused therapy
* Existential therapy
* Focusing
* Gestalt therapy
* Logotherapy
* Person-centered therapy

Other|

* Art therapy
* Dance therapy
* Feminist therapy
* Music therapy
* Narrative therapy
* Play therapy
* Reality therapy
* Systemic therapy
* Transactional analysis
* List

Integrative|

* Eclectic psychotherapy
* Integrative psychotherapy
* Multimodal therapy
* Transtheoretical model

Approaches|

* Brief psychotherapy
* Counseling
* Online counseling
* Residential treatment
* Self-help
* Support groups

Research|

* Clinical formulation
* Clinical pluralism
* Common factors theory
* Discontinuation
* History
* Practitioner–scholar model

Techniques|

| Behaviour therapy|

* Aversion therapy
* Chaining
* Contingency management
* Shaping
* Stimulus control
* Token economy
* Counterconditioning
* Desensitization/Exposure therapy
* Systematic desensitization

|

Other individual therapy|

* Autogenic training
* Biofeedback
* Cognitive restructuring
* Emotion regulation
* Free association
* Homework
* Hypnotherapy
* Modeling

Group psychotherapy|

* Co-therapy
* Couples therapy
* Family therapy
* Psychodrama
* Sensitivity training

People|

* Philippe Pinel (1745–1826)
* Josef Breuer (1842–1925)
* Sigmund Freud (1856–1939)
* Pierre Janet (1859–1947)
* Alfred Adler (1870–1937)
* Sándor Ferenczi (1873–1933)
* Carl Jung (1875–1961)
* Ludwig Binswanger (1881–1966)
* Melanie Klein (1882–1960)
* Otto Rank (1884–1939)
* Karen Horney (1885–1952)
* Harry Stack Sullivan (1892–1949)
* Fritz Perls (1893–1970)
* Anna Freud (1895–1982)
* Donald Winnicott (1896–1971)
* Wilhelm Reich (1897–1957)
* Milton H. Erickson (1901–1980)
* Jacques Lacan (1901–1981)
* Erik Erikson (1902–1994)
* Carl Rogers (1902–1987)
* Viktor Frankl (1905–1997)
* George Kelly (1905–1967)
* Rollo May (1909–1994)
* Virginia Axline (1911–1988)
* Carl Whitaker (1912–1995)
* Albert Ellis (1913–2007)
* James Bugental (1915–2008)
* Joseph Wolpe (1915–1997)
* Virginia Satir (1916–1988)
* Aaron T. Beck (b. 1921)
* Salvador Minuchin (1921–2017)
* Hans Herrman Strupp (1921–2006)
* Paul Watzlawick (1921–2007)
* Haim Ginott (1922–1973)
* Ogden Lindsley (1922–2004)
* Arthur Janov (1924–2017)
* Eugene Gendlin (1926–2017)
* R. D. Laing (1927–1989)
* Jean Baker Miller (1927–2006)
* Otto F. Kernberg (b. 1928)
* Nathan Azrin (1930–2013)
* Irvin D. Yalom (b. 1931)
* Arnold Lazarus (1932–2013)
* Lorna Smith Benjamin (b. 1934)
* Marsha M. Linehan (b. 1943)
* Vittorio Guidano (1944–1999)
* Les Greenberg (b. 1945)
* William R. Miller (b. 1947)
* Steven C. Hayes (b. 1948)
* Michael White (1948–2008)
* Jeffrey Young (b. 1950)
* Peter Fonagy (b. 1952)

Associations|

* Association for the Advancement of Psychotherapy
* Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
* Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
* Association for Behavior Analysis International
* European Association for Psychotherapy
* Society for Psychotherapy Research
* World Council for Psychotherapy

0.00

(0 votes)

Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavior modification. Read more

|

Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Philosophy:Behavior_modification&oldid=3418200"
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template