Behavior Modification

• Behavior modification is the use of actions and techniques to change behaviors that respond to specific stimuli. The principle behind behavior modification is operant conditioning, which is training the mind to respond to those stimuli in a different way. In the most basic form, this is usually done through either positive or negative reinforcement of desired outcomes.
  
  

History

• One of the more familiar early examples of behavior modification is Pavlov's dog and the bell. Russian psychologist Ivan Pavlov was able to train a dog to salivate when he heard a bell by consistently ringing it whenever he put out food for the animal. The dog would hear the bell, see the food and begin to salivate. After enough conditioning, the food no longer needed to be present when the bell rang in order for the dog to salivate.
  B.F. Skinner was a psychologist who focused on researching human behavior and response. His book "Verbal Behavior" argues that how we use language is subject to the same rules as any other behavior. In other words, our words can be modified, changed and trained to respond and elicit certain responses from other verbal and nonverbal stimuli.
  
  

Techniques

• As mentioned earlier, positive reinforcement is a basic technique of behavioral modification. An example would be rewarding workers with praise and money every time they accomplish certain tasks. This could be considered successful if the intent is for the workers to have a more positive attitude toward completing their goals. Negative reinforcement is another technique. If the goal is for workers to complete tasks on time, a negative reinforcement could be a deduction in pay or benefits from workers who fail to do so.
  The ABC method is another widely used technique that requires an analysis of a situation in order to determine ways to avoid the undesired response. The Antecedent (A) is what happened before the behavior. Behavior (B) is the actual response and the consequence (C) is the result of the behavior. By approaching situations with this framework, someone could determine what to do with each factor in order to change the behavior.
  
  

Psychological Application

• Behavioral modification can be applied to a number of psychological situations. Obsessive compulsive disorder is a condition in which a person can feel compelled to accomplish a specific routine or task before comfortably moving on to another task. If the patient does not, he often experiences enough anxiety and negative feeling to interfere with normal life, although the compulsions might already be interfering with normal life to a greater degree. Behavior modification techniques can be used to help replace the interfering, compulsive behaviors with less obstructive ones or change the thought pattern to alleviate anxiety symptoms associated with not completing the compulsive actions.
  
  

Classroom Applications

• The classroom is another place where behavior modification techniques are often applied. The reward system is often used, sometimes using charts as a tool. Children are given a chart where, upon completion, a special reward is given. The number of completions, rewards and specific rewarding behavior are clearly outlined on the chart. The premise is that when children can visualize a goal with hopes of a reward, they are more likely to focus and complete it.