Topic 1: Introduction to Behavior Modification Flashcards
Behavior
the subject matter of behavior modification
behavior is what a person says or does, it involves a person’s actions
Dimensions
an aspect of the behavior that can be measured and modified
relevant dimensions may include frequency, duration, intensity, and latency
Frequency
a dimension of behavior, specifically the number of times a behavior occurs in a specific time period
the number of responses (frequency) divided by the time equals the rate of behavior
Duration
a dimension of behavior, specifically the time from the onset of the behavior to the offset of the behavior
duration is how long an instance of behavior lasts
Intensity
a dimension of behavior, specifically the physical force or magnitude of the behavior
often measured with a recording instrument or on a rating scale
Latency
a dimension of behavior, specifically the time from some stimulus to the onset of behavior
Overt Behavior
behavior that can be observed and recorded by a person other than the one engaging in the behavior
Covert Behaviors
behavior that is not observable to others, also called private events
What are the characteristics of behavior?
behavior is what people do and say
behaviors have dimensions
behaviors can be observed, described, and recorded
behaviors have an impact on the environment
behavior is lawful
behaviors may be overt or covert
Behavior Modification
the field of psychology concerned with analyzing and modifying human behavior (also called applied behavior analysis)
Target Behavior
in behavior modification, the behavior to be modified
Behavioral Excess
an undesirable target behavior that a person seeks to decrease in frequency, duration, or intensity
Behavioral Deficit
a desirable target behavior that a person seeks to increase in frequency, duration, or intensity
Behaviorism
the philosophy of the science of behavior
the core tenants are that behavior is lawful and controlled by environmental events occurring in close temporal relation to the behavior
Experimental Analysis of Behavior
the scientific study of behavior and the types of environmental events that are functionally related to the occurrence of behavior
involves laboratory research with nonhumans and humans
Applied Behavioral Analysis
a term often used interchangeably with the term behavior modification
it involves analyzing and modifying human behavior
Controlling Variables
the environmental factors (antecedents and consequences) that influence the probability of a particular behavior
they are the consequences that are functionally related to the behavior
What are the characteristics of behavior modification as listed in the textbook?
focus on behavior
guided by the theory and philosophy of behaviorism
based on behavioral principles
emphasis on current environmental events
precise description of procedures
implemented by people in everyday life
measurement of behavior change
de-emphasis on past events as causes of behavior
rejection of hypothetical underlying causes of behavior
Law of Effect
states that a behavior that produces a favorable effect on the environment will be more likely to be repeated in the future
What is overt behavior?
objectively measurable
verbal (using language), or motor (using the body)
What is covert behavior?
not observable by others (may only be inferred from overt behaviors)
also called “private events”
e.g. thoughts and feelings
What is a target behavior?
the behavior to be modified
What is a response?
one instance or occurrence of a behavior
What is a response class?
a group of responses with the same function
that is, each response in the group produces the same effect on the environment (the same consequences)
you could drink one cup of water from a glass, a bottle, or a coconut with a straw, but you would still quench your thirst
What is a repertoire?
the collection of all behaviors a person can perform
What are some things that behavior is not?
interpretive descriptions of a personality trait (e.g. honest, introverted)
diagnostic label (e.g. depression, bipolar disorder)
products of behavior (e.g. losing weight)
What is the Dead Man Test (Ogden Lindsley, 1965)?
“If a dead man can do it, then it ain’t behavior, and if a dead man can’t do it, then it is behavior”
How can behaviors and the environment interact?
the environment can lead to certain behaviors
behaviors can affect one’s environment
environmental consequences of a behavior can affect subsequent behaviors
What was the Fisher, Godwin, & Seltman (2014) study on how cluttered classroom affect students?
participants were 24 kindergarten students
independent variable: research laboratory modified to look like a classroom (either a decorated-classroom condition or a sparse-classroom condition)
children participated in six science lessons over a 2-week period
off-task behavior: children were distracted 38.6% of time in the decorated classroom vs. 28.4% in the sparse classroom
learning: test scores were lower in the decorated classroom (42%) vs. sparse classroom (55%)
conclusions: decorated classrooms produce more off-task behavior, and decreased learning
What are the three aspects of psychology?
theoretical
experimental
applied
What is the theoretical aspect of psychology?
conceptual thinking, done at a computer, at a desk, in an office
What is the experimental aspect of psychology?
basic research, often with animals in a lab
What is the applied aspect of psychology?
practical research and treatments to solve a problem, usually on people, in the real world
What is behaviorism?
philosophy of the science of behavior
What is experimental analysis of behavior?
basic scientific research on the functional relationship between environmental events and resulting behavior
What is behavior modification?
the application of experimentally derived laws of learning to human behavior, and providing behavior analytic services to consumers
What is the definition of behavior modification?
includes analyzing the relationship between environment and behavior
and changing the environment to help people modify their behavior
these are applied to reach the goal of improving people’s lives
What are the characteristics of behavior modification as seen in the lecture notes?
typically defines problems in terms of measurable behavior
likewise, solutions are evaluated in terms of those same behaviors
treatments work by affecting an individual’s environment, comprised of stimuli: things perceptible in one’s immediate environment
all aspects are defined specifically, and in detail (including stimuli and behaviors)
can be applied by non-professionals
based on the scientific study of learning, and the two kinds of conditioning (operant and respondent)
emphasizes scientific evidence in evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention
does not rely on hypothetical constructs: theoretical concept that mediate behavior
places high importance on accountability for everyone experiencing, administering, and overseeing treatment programs
What are the myths and misconceptions about behavior modification and rebuttals?
using rewards is bribery [our behaviors persist because they are reinforced, whether we realize it or not]
ignores the root causes of behavior and just treats the symptoms [antecedent causes are important; further root causes cannot always be determined anyway]
does not deal with thoughts or feelings, just behaviors [behavior modification can be applied to cognitions or affect]
can eb applies to simple problems (e.g. toilet training), but not too complex ones (e.g. low self-esteem) [works with all kinds of problems behaviors, even psychological disorders]
makes people dependent on external incentives; ruins intrinsic motivation [well-designed programs ensure maintenance of behavior]
it only works on children or those with disabilities [correctly implemented programs can be applied to anyone]
is outdated [has gained new relevance in helping those with autism]
treatment methods are dehumanizing, like those in A Clockwork Orange [there are strict ethical controls to prevent abuse]
What is applied behavior analysis (ABA)?
using knowledge about human behavior to reduce socially undesirable behaviors and/or increase desirable ones
What is the relationship between behavior modification and applied behavior analysis?
some consider behavior modification to be equivalent to applied behavior analysis
others consider the term “ABA” a replacement for the term “behavior modification”
still others see behavior modification as a larger category that includes: ABA, application of respondent conditioning, behavior therapy, and cognitive behavior therapy
What was psychology in the 19th century?
the scientific study of conscious experience
example: introspection of the conscious experience of tasting lemonade
criticisms: introspection is unreliable, invalid, and not objective
What was psychology in the 20th century?
the science of observable behavior
no more study of consciousness
Who was Ivan Pavlov?
respondent behaviors are involuntary; elicited by stimuli that precede them
stimulus and response from a reflex
S-R psychology: focused on how environmental events and stimuli (S) affect responses (R)
Who was E.L. Thorndike?
described the law of effect: a behavior that has a favorable outcome is more likely to occur again in that situation in the future
example: a cat placed in a “puzzle box” would discover how to open it and get food, and gradually would improve this behavior
discussed how an animal can “modify it behavior” but did not coin the term behavior modification
Who was J.B. Watson?
founded behaviorism
developed methodological behaviorism: the study of behavior alone, not of any internal, mental state or event (1913)
rationale: mental events cannot be objectively observed or studied
proposed that most human activities were learned habits
S-R models
Who was B.F. Skinner?
awarded 1969 US National Medal of Science
radical behaviorism and the S-R-S model
What is radical behaviorism?
Skinner’s philosophy on the science of behavior
goal is understand and explain all behavior
this includes “private events” that occur “inside the skin” (e.g. thoughts and feelings)
What are private events?
are behaviors, have no special properties
different from ‘public” behaviors only in that they are not directly accessible to others
influenced by the same kinds of variables as publicly accessible behaviors
What is the S-R-S model?
a.k.a. three-term contingency, or ABCs of behavior
Antecedent stimulus produces –> Behavior (or response) which in turn produces –> Consequence (also a stimulus or event): reinforcement or punishment
What are some areas of application of behavior modification?
autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities
clinical behavior analysis/cognitive behavior therapies
environmental sustainability
parenting and parent/child relationships
medical care
health
education
sport psychology
employment settings
self-management
