Behavior Modification William G Huitt Educational Psychology Interactive

Behavior Modification William G. Huitt Educational Psychology Interactive Last rev: June 2012

Behavior Modification Techniques Five categories of behavior modification techniques 1. Develop a new behavior 2. Strengthen a new behavior 3. Maintain an established behavior 4. Reduce inappropriate behavior 5. Modify emotional behavior Adapted from: Krumboltz, J. , & Krumboltz, H. (1972). Changing children's behavior. New York, NY: Prentice-Hall.

Develop a New Behavior Successive Approximation Principle Target behavior is one in which learner has seldom or never behaved. Reward successive steps to final target behavior (also called shaping).

Develop a New Behavior Continuous Application of Consequences Target behavior is one in which learner has seldom or never behaved. Provide immediate reward after every performance of the target behavior.

Develop a New Behavior Negative Reinforcement Principle Learner shows reluctance to exhibit target behavior or engage in learning process. Arrange for learner to escape a mild aversive stimulus by engaging in target behavior. Allow learner to avoid mild aversive stimulus by emitting target behavior.

Develop a New Behavior Premack Principle High-frequency behavior can be used to reinforce low-frequency behavior. Access to preferred activity is contingent on completing the low-frequency, nonpreferred activity. Also called “grandma’s rule”

Develop a New Behavior Cueing Principle Provide a cue or signal to learner as reminder to emit the target behavior at a particular time. Cue can act as discriminative stimulus.

Strengthen a New Behavior Decreasing Reinforcement Principle Gradually require a longer time period or more desired target behaviors before a consequence is provided.

Strengthen a New Behavior Variable Reinforcement Principle Provide learner with consequences after a variable number of desired target behaviors have been emitted. Generally will have been through a series of fixed schedules before using variable schedule.

Maintain Established Behavior Substitution Principle May need to change reinforcers when a previously effective reward begins to no longer control behavior Present reinforcer just before (as close as possible) your presentation of the new, hopefully more effective, reinforcer.

Reduce Inappropriate Behavior Satiation Principle Allow learner to continue (even insist that he continue) performing the inappropriate or undesired behavior until he or she tires of it.

Reduce Inappropriate Behavior Extinction Principle Arrange for the learner to receive no reinforcement for engaging in an inappropriate or undesired behavior.

Reduce Inappropriate Behavior Incompatible Alternative Principle Reinforce an alternative action that is inconsistent with the inappropriate or undesired behavior or cannot be performed at the same time.

Reduce Inappropriate Behavior Response Cost Principle Remove a pleasant or positive stimulus immediately after the undesired act is emitted. As response cost and punishment result in increased hostility and aggression, these should be used infrequently and in conjunction with reinforcement.

Modify Emotional Behavior Avoidance Principle To teach a learner to avoid a specific situation, simultaneously present the situation to be avoided (or some representation of it) and some aversive stimulus (or it’s representation).

Modify Emotional Behavior Fear Reduction Principle To help a learner overcome a fear of a particular stimulus and/or situation, gradually increase the exposure to the feared situation while the learner is otherwise comfortable, relaxed, secures, and/or rewarded.

Behavioral Learning Theories To review • Overview of behavioral learning theories. • Classical conditioning theory. • Overview of operant conditioning. • Techniques of operant conditioning. • Schedules for applying consequences. • Behavior modification techniques. To take a quiz on behavioral theories.