Psychology Chapter 12 Flashcards

Self-Control

• Defined as behaviors undertaken deliberately to achieve self-selected outcomes.
• Important in personal behavior management and long-term goal achievement.

Self-Administered Interventions

• Techniques where clients actively influence and guide their own behavior.
• Can vary in the degree of control clients have over contingencies and consequences.

Everyday Self-Control Techniques

• Individuals automatically use behaviors to manage impulses.
• Techniques include physical restraint, altering emotional responses, and using self-reinforcing statements.

Concept of Self-Control

• Involves performing a controlling response to affect the likelihood of a different behavior.
• Examples include using chewing gum to reduce smoking cravings.

Covert Responses

• Refers to internal operant responses, such as thoughts and emotions.
• Self-control techniques can extend to non-observable behaviors, influencing thoughts and inner dialogue.

Importance of Self-Control

• Early self-control predicts significant life outcomes.
• Techniques empower individuals in managing unobservable issues like overeating.
• Increasing personal responsibility for health could improve national health outcomes.

Educational Applications of Self-Administered Interventions

• Includes self-monitoring, self-reinforcement, and self-punishment strategies.
• Relevant for both regular and special education settings.

Self-Monitoring

• Involves systematically observing one’s behaviors over time to track specific target behaviors.
• Effective for promoting compliance and reducing undesired behavior in educational contexts.

Self-Reinforcement

• Clients learn to reward themselves based on their behavior, increasing the likelihood of desired responses.
• Clients decide reinforcement criteria and can follow their own monitoring processes.

Self-Recruited Reinforcement

• Individuals solicit feedback and reinforcement from others, promoting self-control.
• Commonly used in educational settings to enhance praise and recognition for achievements.

Self-Punishment

• Involves self-administering consequences to modify behavior.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in various settings, including classrooms.

Self-Assessment

• Involves evaluating one's current behavior or condition under personal control.
• Can inform decisions about seeking professional help for issues like mental health.

Stimulus Control

• Stimuli associated with behaviors act as cues that increase behavior likelihood.
• Interventions can help change inappropriate stimuli and reduce undesirable behaviors.

Insomnia Treatment Rules

• Specific guidelines include maintaining sleep-associated behaviors and routine wake times.
• Avoid activities in bed other than sleep to strengthen the association between bed and sleep.

Alternate Response Training

• Training individuals to adopt behaviors that replace undesired ones, often to manage anxiety.
• Relaxation techniques are commonly employed as alternatives to anxiety-inducing responses.

Biofeedback

• Techniques help individuals regulate physiological processes like heart rate through real-time feedback.
• Often used in conjunction with relaxation training for effectiveness.

Self-Help Resources

• Include various materials that aid in addressing clinical dysfunctions and promoting self-improvement.
• Can serve as main interventions, first steps toward professional help, or supplementary aids.

Managing Stress – Self-Help Recommendations

• Suggestions include time management, deep breathing, muscle relaxation, physical activity, and healthy eating.
• Emphasis on moderation with alcohol and the importance of seeking help for persistent stress.

Strengths and Limitations of Self-Control Procedures

• Self-monitoring has proven useful in educational settings.
• Self-control and participation in programs enhance compliance and effectiveness.
• Many self-help options lack empirical support and can deter individuals from seeking adequate treatment.