Behavioral Modification PDF

Behavioral modification Community health nursing / Clinical (0711411) University of Jordan School of nursing Leen Zakaria Saadeh 0215969 Dana Khalil Kamleh 0216728 Majd mohammed Kharabsheh 0215392 Outlines Objectives Introduction Definitions Areas of application Behav...

Behavioral modification Community health nursing / Clinical (0711411) University of Jordan School of nursing Leen Zakaria Saadeh 0215969 Dana Khalil Kamleh 0216728 Majd mohammed Kharabsheh 0215392 Outlines Objectives Introduction Definitions Areas of application Behavioral modification techniques Examples and application of the behavioral modification techniques Article Conclusion Questions  Objectives By the end of this session the students will be able to : Identify the concepts of behavior and behavioral modification. distinguish areas of application for behavioral modification. Deffrentiate between the techniques used in behavioral modification Explore examples and applications of behavioral modification techniques  Introduction Behavior and behavioral modification are critical areas of study that explore how individuals act and how these actions can be changed. By examining factors that influence human conduct, not only we can gain an insight of problematic behaviors but also become able to promote personal growth and development.  What is Behavior? Behavior is what people do and say and it has the following characteristics : -Behavior has dimensions that can be measured, such as duration, frequency, intensity, and latency. -It can be observed, measured, or recorded by others or by the one engaging in the behavior. -It has an impact on the environment while being influenced by environmental events. What is Behavioral modification? It is the applied science and professional practice concerned with analyzing and modifying the human behavior. Analyzing : by determining the functional relationship between environmental events and a particular behavior, to determine why someone behaved the way they did. Modifying : developing and implementing procedures to help people change their behavior. It involves altering environmental events so as to influence behavior.  Areas of application  Developmental disabilities  Mental illness  Education and special education  Rehabilitation  Community psychology  Self management  Child behavior management  Health related behaviors  Developmental disabilities People with developmental disabilities may display problematic behaviors such as self-injury, aggression, and destruction, but numerous studies show that these behaviors can often be controlled or eliminated through behavioral interventions. Additionally, behavior modification techniques are widely applied in the training and management of staff working with individuals with developmental disabilities.  Mental illness This approach has been applied to help patients with chronic mental illness improve various behaviors, including daily living skills, social interactions, aggression, treatment compliance, psychotic behaviors, and work skills. A significant advancement in this field was the introduction of the token economy, a motivational procedure developed for institutional patients, which remains widely used in various treatment environments  Education and special education  Behavior modification procedures are widely used in both general and special education, improving teaching methods and classroom management.  Behavioral modification procedures for special education are essential due to the following : 1. Enhancing teaching methods 2. Managing problematic behaviors 3. Improving social skills 4. Promoting self-management in students with developmental disabilities or special needs  Rehabilitation  It aims to help individuals regain normal function after injuries or trauma (e.g., head injury, stroke).  Role of Behavior Modification: 1. Promotes adherence to rehabilitation routines (e.g., physical therapy). 2. Teaches new skills to replace those lost due to the injury. 3. Reduces problem behaviors. 4. Manages chronic pain. 5. Enhances memory performance  Community psychology Behavioral interventions aim to influence the behaviors of large groups for collective benefit through the following : Reducing littering Promoting recycling Lowering energy consumption Decreasing unsafe driving Curbing illegal drug use Increasing seat belt usage Minimizing illegal parking in disabled spaces Reducing speeding  Self management Individuals can benefit from behavioral modification through the following : Control of personal habits Management of health-related behaviors Regulation of professional conduct Addressing personal issues  Child behavior management Common issues among children that can be resolved with behavioral modification: Bed-wetting Nail-biting Temper tantrums Noncompliance Aggressive behaviors Bad manners Stuttering  Health related behaviors It increases healthy behaviors while minimizing the unhealthy ones Its impact on health : 1. Reduces the frequency and intensity of headaches. 2. Lowers blood pressure. 3. Reduces gastrointestinal disturbances. It increases compliance to medical regimens Behavioral modification techniques Reinforcement Extinction Punishment Meditation  Reinforcement Reinforcement is the process in which a behavior is strengthened by the immediate consequence that reliably follows its occurrence. When a behavior is strengthened, it is more likely to occur again in the future. It has two types : 1. Positive reinforcement 2. Negative reinforcement  Positive reinforcement Positive reinforcement is defined as follows. The occurrence of a behavior is followed by the addition of a stimulus (a reinforcer) or an increase in the intensity of a stimulus which results in the strengthening of the behavior.  Examples and application (positive reinforcement) Giving verbal praise to a child after they complete their homework encourages them to continue doing it in the future. In a classroom, students might earn points for good behavior, which they can later exchange for a prize. Giving an employee a bonus for exceeding sales targets encourages them to maintain high performance  Negative reinforcement Negative reinforcement, by contrast, is defined as follows : The occurrence of a behavior is followed by the removal of a stimulus (an aversive stimulus) or a decrease in the intensity of a stimulus, which results in the strengthening of the behavior For example, the annoying sound of the seatbelt alarm that goes off when you don’t wear your seatbelt stops once you buckle up, encouraging you to wear it.  Examples and application (negative reinforcement) Studying to Avoid Failing: A student studies hard to avoid the stress and anxiety of failing a test, reinforcing the habit of studying. Taking Pain Relievers: Taking medication to relieve a headache removes the pain, encouraging the behavior of taking medication when in discomfort. Cleaning to Avoid Criticism: A child cleans their room to avoid being scolded by his parents  Extinction Extinction is a basic principle of behavior which is defined as the following : A behavior that has been previously reinforced no longer results in the reinforcing consequences and, therefore, the behavior stops occurring in the future An "extinction burst" occurs when a behavior that is no longer reinforced temporarily increases in frequency, intensity, or duration. This can also lead to the emergence of new behaviors or emotional reactions, although briefly.  Extinction A widespread misunderstanding about extinction is that it simply means ignoring the behavior. Ignoring the behavior only acts as extinction if attention was the reinforcer for that behavior. The decrease in behavior happens more quickly during extinction if the behavior was previously reinforced on a continuous schedule and if it is not reinforced at all during the extinction phase.  Examples and application (Extinction) read the following case study : Each night, 4-year-old Amanda cried at bedtime for 10–15 minutes, and her parents came to her room and talked to her until she fell asleep. By doing so, her parents were accidentally reinforcing her crying. After talking to a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, the parents decided not to go into her room or talk to her when she cried at bed time. The first night, she cried for 25 minutes before falling asleep. By the end of the week, she quit crying at all at bedtime. When they stopped going to her room after she cried, the parents were using extinction. The increase in crying duration the first night is an extinction burst. Examples and application (Extinction)  Examples and application Workplace Behavior: An employee who frequently asks for help and receives assistance (positive reinforcement) may continue to do so. If the manager decides to stop providing help, the employee might ask even more frequently at first (extinction burst) but will eventually stop asking for help if it is no longer effective Addiction Treatment: In the context of addiction, if a person uses a substance to relieve stress (negative reinforcement), and they stop using it, they may initially experience increased stress or cravings (extinction burst) before eventually learning to cope with stress without the substance.  Punishment A particular behavior occurs, a consequence immediately follows the behavior, as a result, the behavior is less likely to occur again in the future. (The behavior is weakened.) You can conclude that a particular consequence is punishing only if the behavior decreases in the future Many think punishment means harming someone for their misbehavior.However, punishment is simply a behavioral principle. It does not necessarily involve legal or moral implications.  Punishment Remember : you punish Behaviors, not People It is correct to say that you punish a behavior (or a response It is incorrect to say that you punish a person. You don’t weaken a person, you weaken a person’s behavior.  Punishment There are different types of punishment : 1. Positive punishment : when the behavior is followed by the presentation of an aversive stimulus, as a result, the behavior is less likely to occur in the future. 2. Negative punishment : when the behavior is followed by the removal of a reinforcing stimulus, as a result, the behavior is less likely to occur in the future.  Examples and application (Positive punishment) An example of positive reinforcement is a teacher giving extra homework (undesirable consequence) to a student who talks during class (undesired behavior). A scenario where a teenager receives a scolding from their parent for coming home late. The scolding is an added unpleasant consequence that aims to discourage the behavior of coming home late in the future.  Examples and application (Negative punishment) A parent taking away video game privileges (desirable stimulus) when a child doesn’t finish their homework (undesired behavior). when a student loses the privilege to participate in a school field trip because they were disruptive in class. The removal of the enjoyable experience (the field trip) serves as a consequence for the undesirable behavior, aiming to reduce disruptions in the future  Punishment There are different types of punishment : 3. Unconditioned punishment : naturally harmful stimuli that weaken behaviors instinctively, helping humans avoid dangerous actions like touching fire or sharp objects. 4. Conditioned punishment : neutral stimuli that gain a punishing effect through prior learning, becoming associated with unpleasant events, like a warning sound linked to a loud noise or shock.  Punishment Factors that influence the effectiveness of punishment : Immediacy :A stimulus is more effective as a punisher when presented immediately after the behavior. Contingency :A stimulus is more effective as a punisher when presented contingent on the behavior. Individual differences and magnitude: Punishers vary from person to person. In general, a more intense aversive stimulus is a more effective punisher.  Meditation Meditation is one of the most popular and widely researched mental training techniques, and meditation and mindfulness are often treated as panaceas for almost anything Meditation is not one specific technique but an umbrella term that encompasses a great variety of different techniques Meditation usually refers to a formal practice that can calm the mind and enhance awareness of ourselves, our minds and our environment.  Meditation All meditation techniques focus on being aware of the present moment. Awareness helps us observe thoughts and feelings as they come and go. Allowing thoughts to arise without attachment leads to calmness and stillness  Meditation Over time, we learn about our own thinking patterns. The goal is to recognize and note thoughts like worry or fear without judgment. Gently letting go of these thoughts helps reduce mental chaos.  Examples and application (Meditation) Scanning the entire body meditation (Body scan meditation) Observing how thoughts arise in the mind without adhering to them Being mindful of the sensations arising in the nose during inhalation and exhalation  Mindfulness and behavior change An article published in Harvard review of psychiatry journal (2020) The article discusses how mindfulness can help people manage their health and change their behaviors. It shows that being mindful can make us more aware of our habits and what triggers them, which is important for making healthier choices. The authors explain that our mental and physical health are connected, and mindfulness can improve both. They also talk about common challenges people face when trying to change their behaviors, like stress and negative thinking, and how mindfulness can help with these issues. Mindfulness can be useful in many areas, such as diet, exercise, and stress management. While the results are encouraging, the article emphasizes the need for more research to find out which mindfulness practices work best and why. Finally, it suggests simple ways to include mindfulness in daily life and healthcare, encouraging its wider use to support better health outcomes.  Conclusion In conclusion, understanding behavior and the principles of behavioral modification is essential for identifying and addressing problematic actions. This knowledge empowers individuals to foster personal growth and facilitate positive change, ultimately enhancing well-being and productivity. By delving into these concepts, we can cultivate healthier behaviors and enrich our lives and the lives of those around us. Wanna play Kahoot! ?  References - Schuman-Olivier, Z., Trombka, M., Lovas, D. A., Brewer, J. A., Vago, D. R., Gawande, R., Dunne, J. P., Lazar, S. W., Loucks, E. B., & Fulwiler, C. (2020). Mindfulness and behavior change. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 28(6), 371–394. https://doi.org/10.1097/hrp.0000000000000277 - Matko, K., Ott, U., & Sedlmeier, P. (2021). What do meditators do when they meditate? Proposing a novel basis for future meditation research. Mindfulness, 12(7), 1791–1811. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-021-01641-5 - Behan, C. (2020). The benefits of meditation and mindfulness practices during times of crisis such as COVID- 19. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 37(4), 256–258. https://doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2020.38 - Miltenberger, R. G. (2016). Behavior modification: Principles and procedures (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.