Behavior Modifiers

Behavior Modifiers

1. What Is Behavior Modification?

   • Techniques used to try and decrease or increase a particular type of behavior or reaction.

2. Origin of the Theory

   • Operant conditioning
     • Involves using a system of rewards and/or punishments.
   • Classical conditioning
     • Particular stimulus or signal.

3. Techniques

   • Positive reinforcement
     • Pairing a positive stimulus to a behavior.
   • Negative reinforcement
     • The opposite and is the pairing of a behavior to the removal of a negative stimulus.
   • Punishment
     • Designed to weaken behaviors by pairing an unpleasant stimulus to a behavior.
   • Flooding
     • Involves exposing people to fear-invoking objects or situations intensely and rapidly.
   • Systematic desensitization
     • Used to treat phobias and involves teaching a client to remain calm while focusing on these fears.
   • Aversion therapy
     • The pairing of an unpleasant stimulus to an unwanted behavior in order to eliminate that behavior.
   • Extinction
     • Removal of all reinforcement that might be associated with a behavior.

4. Exercise

   • Expected: to participate, be friendly, respectful, helpful. Unexpected: yelling, not participating, walking while receiving class