The purpose of this assignment was to examine behaviour modification and its applications in various settings. Reinforcement is a key concept when determining the various methods of behaviour modification and its consequences. Some methods of behaviour modification are more effective than others and this modifies the respective consequence as a result. More thought must be given to the various consequence for a person’s action and this would eliminate numerous anxieties experienced through inappropriate behaviour. Social interaction is also greatly responsible for shaping our types of behaviour and the way in which we exhibit them.
Behaviour modification is defined as ‘a systematic approach to changing behaviour through the application of the principles of conditioning'(Weiten, 2001. P.256).
To encourage people to adopt more appropriate behaviour, techniques are used to reward someone when the correct behaviour is used and to admonish someone when they act inadvertently. As a result of this, a person’s actions are responsible for the particular outcome of the situation. These techniques have been adopted successfully in many environments such as schools, prisons and hospitals. The presumed assumption defining behaviour modification is that ‘we do what we do in order to minimise those events or stimulus that we, as individuals, find to be aversive'(O’Leary, 1972).
With learned behaviour, there are always consequences that follow as a result of one’s actions and the extent of pleasure depends on the effectiveness of these actions. Consequences that immediately follow the behaviour are far more effective than consequences that are delayed.
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Reinforcement is a detailed concept that manipulates change and development in our behavioural patterns. Social Interaction is one of the primary determinants influencing the type and intensity of behaviour that we exhibit. We are subconsciously aware of what shapes and controls our behaviour due to the fact that we have not learned to recognise reinforcing stimulus. By learning to more carefully observe consequences of behaviour, habits can be adapted to derive the desired outcome. Behaviour that is rewarding is usually repeated, and behaviour that is discouraging is not likely to be repeated.
Any stimulus that maintains or accelerates behaviour is said to be a positive reinforcer. positive reinforcement of behaviour is the most effective way of increasing the rate of specific desired behaviours. This is due to the response being strengthened when this reinforcement occurs because of a particular reward to praise the previous behaviour. For example, if a person studies hard at school, the will reap the benefits of successful results. To do this effectively, a suitable reward must be found for each particular individual. While both positive and negative reinforcement accelerate behaviour, positive reinforcement is the most sure and accurate procedure because there are no undesirable side effects and the accelerating properties are confined to the persons learning capacity. It is often considered that people like positive reinforcement as it is subservient to behaviour modification. If the behaviour is not observed to continue at a par rate after the introduction of a stimulus, the stimulus is not a positive reinforcer. Generally, to accelerate a certain behaviour, positive reinforcement must be administered immediately after each session.
With the removal of a stimulus, the rate of behaviour will also simultaneously increase. This is known as negative reinforcement. It should be mentioned that negative reinforcement does in fact reinforce behaviour. ‘In laboratory studies, negative reinforcement is usually accomplished as follows. While a rat is in a Skinner box, a moderate electric shock is delivered to the animal through the floor of the box. When the rat presses the lever, the shock is turned off for a period of time. Thus, lever pressing leads to remove of an aversive stimulus. Although this sequence of events is different from those for positive reinforcement, it reliably strengthens the rats lever pressing response'(Weiten, 2001. P.241).
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Equivalently, if a negative stimulus is to be administered to a person as a result of inappropriate actions, the person is far less likely to ‘reoffend’. This method of reinforcement is considerably less effective than that of positive reinforcement. Negative reinforcement is more suitably used in a regimented environment where there is an element of fear or anxiety. With negative reinforcement there is also a greater probability of unwanted side effects. These being avoidance learning, preventing an aversive stimulus from occurring and escape learning, responding to a decrease or the end of a stimulus.
If there is no response from a specific environment after a behaviour is exhibited, then there is said to be non-reinforcement or extinction. There is considerable deceleration of behaviour when non-reinforcement is present. As an example, if a conversation is started but not reciprocated, it has been non-reinforced or extinguished. With non-reinforcement, there is a lot higher probability that the conversation will not come to light in the future. There is a use for non-reinforcement. It is used most frequently in the deceleration of behaviour. Undesirable behaviour can be economically subsidised by the use of extinction. Using non-reinforcement for inappropriate behaviour and positive reinforcement for desirable behaviour is looked upon extremely favourably as a suitable technique.
As a rate of a behaviour is seen to drop when followed by a stimulus, the stimulus functions as an inhibitor. If the stimulus is thought to be painful or unpleasant yet the behaviour rate remains constant after the stimulus has been introduced, then it cannot be classified as an inhibitor. If there is a positive approach to another person and they have a specific negative reaction, so much so that there may not be a willingness to approach this person again, then they have inhibited the other party. The next encounter may bring a variety of responses, from full closure to violence, inhibition is known to accompany unpredictable actions.
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Another type of inhibition involves the removal of something personal directly after certain types of behaviour. Traffic offences and other fines are a specific example of this type of inhibition. It is not always the case though as the person is expected to show some signs of this unwanted behaviour subsiding. Although the use of inhibition often decelerates a certain behaviour, it also results in other less positive behavioural traits. Excessive inhibition however, can lead to stress, anxiety, fear, anger and a feeling of wanting to outsmart the person who has administered the inhibitor. Consequently, inhibitors weaken the behaviours that are to follow, they do not construct them. Therefore the use of positive reinforcement is necessary to rebuild the broken behavioural patterns.
Behaviours are a learned activity, shaped by social interaction through developed patterns. As behaviours are formed, actions follow with consequences, some rewarding and others reprimanding. Behaviour modification seeks to change these developed patterns through responses to stimuli, altering and reinforcing the initial behaviour. There are various types of consequences from this behaviour modification and in turn, each consequence develops into a different outcome. Through trial and perseverance, the desired behaviour can be achieved using these behaviour modifications to reinforce a set pattern.
REFERENCE LIST:
O’Leary, K.D., & O’Leary, S.G. (1972).
Classroom Management. Elmsford, N.Y.: Pergamon Press.
Weiten, W. (2001).
Psychology: Themes and Variations (5th ed.).
Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole
