BMOD ch123summary - Summary Behavior Modification: Principles and Procedures PDF

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Behaviour Modification: Study Questions (From Textbook) Chapter 1 1. What is behavior, generally and technically? Give 3 synonyms for behavior. a. Anything a person says or does. b. Behaviour is any muscular, glandular, or electrical activity of an organism. c. Synonyms include activity, action, performance, responding, reaction. 2. Distinguish between behavior and products of behavior. Give an example of a behavior and a product of behavior. a. Behavior is the physical action you do, the product of the behavior is the result of that physical action. b. Losing 10 pounds is a product of behavior. The behavior that leads to weight loss is the behavior, like eating healthily and exercising more. 3. Distinguish between overt and covert behavior. Give two examples of each. a. Overt behavior is VISIBLE behavior that could be observed and recorded by an individual other than the one performing the behavior. b. Covert behavior is INTERNAL, PRIVATE behavior that cannot be readily observed by others. i. They refer to activities that occur “within one’s skin” and that therefore require special instruments or procedures for others to observe. ii. Thinking and feeling are private behaviours. Thinking in words is called private self-talk 4. What are cognitive behaviours? Give 2 examples. a. Covert behaviours, behaviours that go on inside the mind but that cannot be readily observed. b. Examples include private self-talk and imagining. 5. Describe two dimensions of behavior. Give an example of each. a. Duration: the length of time a behavior lasts. i. For example, Mary studied for 1 hour. b. Frequency: the number of instances that occur in a given period of time i. Frank punched the wall 50 times within 5 minutes. c. Intensity of force: the physical effort or energy involved in emitting the behavior: i. Lucy has a strong grip when shaking hands. Bob hit the keyboard harder when it stopped working. 6. From a behavioural point of view, to what do terms like intelligence or creativity refer? Give an example of each. a. To many people, intelligence is something that a person is born with, a sort of inherited brain power, or innate capacity for learning. i. The word intelligent is actually best used in its adjective form (e.g., “he is an intelligent speaker”) or the adverb form (e.g., she writes intelligently) ii. To describe how people behave under certain conditions, not as a noun for some “thing iii. In this book, we avoid using the word intelligence as a noun.

b. What about creativity? It refers to the kinds of behavior that a person is likely to display under certain circumstances. The creative individual frequently emits behaviours that are novel or unusual and that, at the same time, have desirable effects. i. It is a label for a certain way of behaving. 7. What are 3 disadvantages of using summary labels to refer to individuals or their actions? Give an example of each. a. They may lead to pseudo-explanations of behavior (pseudo means false) i. For example, a child who inverts words while reading, such as saw for was, might be labeled as dyslexic. If we ask why the child inverts words, and we are given the answer “because he is dyslexic”, then the summary label for the behavior has been used as a pseudo-explanation for behaviour. (circular reasoning) b. Labels can negatively affect the way an individual might be treated i. Teachers, for example, may be less likely to encourage children to persist in problem solving if they have been given the label mentally retarded c. It may direct our focus to an individual’s problem behaviours rather than to her or his strengths i. A teenager consistently fails to make his bed but reliably mows the lawn and places the garbage cans on the street on pickup days. If the parents describe their son as lazy, that label may cause them to focus more on the problem behavior than to praise the positive behaviors. 8. What is a behavioural defecit? Give 2 examples. a. Too little behavior of a particular type i. Not using manners. ii. Not bathing regularly iii. Not feeding yourself. 9. What is a behavioural excess? Give 2 examples. a. Too much behavior of a particular type i. Swearing ii. Punching walls 10. Why do behavior modifiers describe behavioural problems in terms of specific behavioural defecits or excesses? a. We want to help you avoid the problems of using general summary labels discussed earlier b. Regardless of the labels attached to an individual, it is behavior that causes concern, and behavior that must be treated to alleviate the problem. 11. What are stimuli? Describe 2 examples that are not in this chapter. a. Stimuli are the people, objects, and events currently present in one’s immediate surroundings that impinge on one’s sense receptors and that can affect behavior. i. For example, alcohol, party, friends, and music are all stimuli. ii. Books, computers, pencils, pens, people walking around and studying are all stimuli at a library. 12. List seven defining characteristics of behavior modification.

a. A behavior modifier is frequently actively involved in restructuring a client’s daily environment to strengthen appropriate behavior rather than spending a great deal of time discussing the client’s past experiences. b. Frequently gives homework assignments to clients in which they change their own everyday environments for therapeutic purposes. c. Its methods and rationales can be described precisely d. The techniques of behavior modification are often applied by individuals in everyday life e. To a large extent, the techniques stem from basic and applied research in the science of learning in general and the principles of operant and Pavlovian conditioning in particular. f. Behavior modification emphasizes scientific demonstration that a particular intervention was responsible for a particular behavior change g. it places high value on accountability for everyone involved in behavior modification programs: clients, staff, administrators, consultants, and so on. 13. Define behavior modification. a. Involves the systematic application of learning principles and techniques to assess and improve individuals’ covert and overt behaviors in order to enhance their daily functioning. 14. What is meant by the term target behavior? Give an example of a target behavior of yours that you would like to improve. Is your target behavior a behavioural defecit to increase or a behavioural excess to decrease? a. Target behavior: behaviors to be improved in a behavior modification program. i. Example. If a university student sets a goal of studying two hours out of class for each hour spent in class, studying is the target behavior. ii. My goal is to go to yogapublic for a class 4 times a week. 15. Define behavioural assessment. a. Behavioral assessment involves the collection and analysis of information and data in order to i. Identify and describe target behaviors ii. Identify possible causes of the behavior iii. Guide the selection of an appropriate behavioral treatment iv. Evaluate treatment outcome 16. What does the term behavior analysis refer to? a. Behavior analysis refers to the scientific study of laws that govern the behavior of human beings and other animals. 17. List 4 dimensions of applied behavior analysis. a. A focus on measurable behavior that is socially significant i. Eg. Littering, parenting skills, language learning with persons with developmental disabilities b. A strong emphasis on the learning principles frequently referred to as operant conditioning c. An attempt to clearly demonstrate that the applied treatment was responsible for the improvement in the behavior that was measured; and d. A demonstration of generalizable and long-lasting improvements on behavior

18. As the terms are used in this book, what is the difference between applied behavior analysis and behavior modification? a. The techniques of behavior modification use the principles of both operant and Pavlovian conditioning, while applied behavior analysis relies largely on operant conditioning. b. Moreover,the term behavior modification encompasses the terms behavior therapy and cognitive behavior therapy c. Thus, although the terms applied behavior analysis and behavior modification are often used interchangeably, the latter term has acquired a broader meaning. 19. In general, what does the term behavior therapy mean? a. The term behavior therapy emerged in the late 1950s to refer to treatment procedures based on Pavlovian conditioning to treat anxiety disorders b. The term has come to refer to behavior modification carried out on dysfunctional behavior (anxiety disorders, depression, etc) in clinical settings. 20. In general, what is the focus of cognitive behavior therapy? a. Focus on treating dysfunctional behavior by changing unproductive, debilitating thought patterns that were considered to be responsible for the dysfunctional behavior (cognitive behavior therapy) 21. List four myths or misconceptions about behavior modification. a. Use of rewards by behavior modifiers to change behavior is bribery b. Behavior modification involves the use of drugs, psychosurgery, and electroconvulsive therapy c. Behavior modification changes only symptoms but doesn’t get at the underlying problems d. Behavior modification can be applied to deal with simple problems such as toilet training children or overcoming fear of heights, but it is not applicable for changing complex problems such as low self-esteem or depression. Chapter 2 Areas of Application: An Overview 1. List five areas in which behavior modification is being applied: a. education b. social work c. clinical psychology d. nursing e. medicine f. sports 2. list 4 behaviours of children that have been improved by the application of behavior modification by parents a. toilet training b. homework c. bedtime routine d. helping around the house e. nail biting f. frequent arguing 3. List 4 behaviours in education that have been modified with behavior modification: a. Out of seat behavior

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b. Tantrums c. Aggressive behavior d. Socializing excessively What is PSI and who was its founder? State 8 characteristics of PSI a. PSI is the Keller plan: Personalized System of Instruction, developed by Fred S. Keller and his colleagues in Brazil in the 1960s. b. Its goal is to help teachers use behavior modification principles to improve classroom instruction: i. Identifies the target behaviors or learning requirements for a course in the form of study questions, such as the questions in each chapter in this book ii. Requires students to study only a small amount of material before demonstrating mastery, such as the amount of material in one or two chapters that might be studied in a week or two iii. Has frequent tests (at least once every week or two) in which students demonstrate their knowledge of the answers to the study questions iv. Has mastery criteria so that students must demonstrate mastery at a particular level before going to the next level v. Is nonpunitive in that students are not penalized for failing to demonstrate mastery on a test but simply restudy and try again vi. Uses a number of student assistants called proctors to score tests immediately and provide feedback to students concerning test performance vii. Incorporates a ‘go-at-your-own-pace” feature in which students are allowed to proceed through the course material at rates that suit their own particular abilities and time demands viii. Uses lectures primarily for motivation and demonstration rather than as a major means of presenting new information Briefly describe how PSI has used computer technology. State 2 benefits of this use of computer technology a. Computer-aided PSI allows instructors to do less of the marking themselves. They can do it on the computer. b. Advantages include substansive feedback and that it is efficient What is currently the preferred term for the disability historically referred to as mental retardation? a. Intellectual disability Name and describe the 3 forces that have revolutionized the education of persons with intellectual disabilities since the 1960s a. Normalization advocates: argued that persons with intellectual disabilities should be helped to lead the most normative lives possible and that traditional large institutions were simply not normative i. Led to a deinstitutionalization movement and the development of community living options for persons with intellectual disabilities b. Civil rights and advocates and parents of persons with intellectual disabilities who secured the legal right of individuals with severe disabilities to receive as normal an education as possible. c. Efforts of behavior modifiers who created the technology that made it possible to dramatically improve the behavior of persons with severe and profound intellectual disabilities List 4 behaviors in persons with intellectual disabilities that have been modified by behavior modification:

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a. Toileting b. Self-help skills c. Social skills d. Communication skills List 4 behaviors in children with autism that have been modified by behavior modification a. Impaired social behavior b. Impaired communication c. Abnormal play behaviors d. Repetitive self-stimulatory behaviors List 4 behaviors in people with schizophrenia that have been modified by behavior modification a. Social skills b. Communication skills c. Assertive-ness skills d. Job-finding skills Briefly, how effective is behavior therapy with psychological problems? a. Many studies have demonstrated that there are definite problem areas for which specific behavioral procedures are demonstrably superior to other forms of psychotherapy List 4 behaviors in the area of self-management of personal problems that have been modified by behavior modification a. Studying b. Finishing papers on time c. Losing weight d. Phobia of riding airplanes e. Can’t start the novel she wants to write What is health psychology? a. Considers how psychological factors can influence or cause illness and how people can be encouraged to practice healthy behavior to prevent health problems Describe 5 areas of application within health psychology a. Direct treatment of medical problems i. Biofeedback – consists of providing immediate information to an individual about that person’s physiological processes, such as heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and brain waves b. Establishing treatment compliance i. Taking medication properly, attending appointments, etc. c. Promotion of healthy living i. Application of techniques to help people manage their own behaviors to stay healthy, such as by eating moderate size, well balanced meals and exercising frequently d. Management of Caregivers i. Changing the behavior of physicians, nurses, etc to improve services provided to patients is receiving increased attention e. Stress Management i. Stressors are conditions or events (lack of sleep, being stuck in traffic, exams, debt) that present coping difficulties ii. Stress reactions are physiological and behavioral responses such as fatigue, high blood pressure, and ulcers that can be rought on by stressors.

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iii. Stress management focuses on developing behavioral strategies for coping with stressors. List 4 behaviors of elderly persons that have been improved with behavior modification a. Daily routines b. New relationships c. Anxiety about failing to cope d. Self-care What is behavioural community psychology? a. Applications to socially significant problems in unstructured community settings where the behavior of individuals is not considered deviant in the traditional sense List five current trends in behavioural community applications a. Greater involvement of the target populations in all aspects of the intervention process b. There is increased fostering of the target individual’s personal control (versus control by professionals) c. There is increased inclusion of subjective assessments when evaluating treatment outcomes d. There is increased emphasis on antecedent events (the intervention with the nurses might rely on posted reminders and the example of senior staff wearing their gloves) versus consequent events (such as praising the nurse for wearing their gloves) e. There is greater interdisciplinary collaboration among professionals List four behaviours in the area of behavioural community psychology that have been modified by behavior modification a. Controlling littering in public campgrounds b. Increasing recycling of returnable soft drink containers c. Promoting energy conservation by increasing bus ridership d. Encouraging welfare recipients to attend self-help meetings e. Helping college students live together in a housing project Define organizational behavior management a. The application of behavioral principles and methods to the study and control of individual or group behavior within organizational settings List four behaviors in business, industry or government that have been modified by behavior modification. For each, are you referring to an actual behavior or product of a behavior? a. Improve productivity b. Decrease tardiness and absenteeism c. Increase sales volume d. Improve worker safety e. Reduce theft by employees f. Reduce shoplifting List four general areas of sport psychology in which behavior modification has been applied a. Techniques for improving skills of athletes b. Strategies for motivating practice and endurance training c. Changing the behavior of coaches d. Sport Psyching to Prepare for Competition Describe how knowledge of a cultural characteristic might be helpful for behavior modifiers working with individuals from different cultures.

a. It is important for therapists to know that many clients with Asian cultural backgrounds prefer to be told specifically what to do by the therapist (as opposed to a more directive approach) b. In some cases, cultural factors might counter-indicate teaching a particular behavior

Chapter 3 Getting a Behavior to Occur More Often with Positive Reinforcement 1. What is a baseline? Give an example. a. A measure of behavior in the absence of a treatment program. The starting point. The observation phase prior to the reinforcement program. 2. What is plotted on the vertical axis in Figure 3-1? a. Instances of cooperative behavior 3. What is plotted on the horizontal axis in Figure 3-1? a. The sessions. Baseline, and following ten minute sessions of playtime. 4. What is a positive reinforcer? a. A stimulus that, when presented immediately following a behavior, causes the behavior to increase in frequency. (synonym: reward) 5. What is the principle of positive reinforcement? a. If. In a given situation, somebody does something that is followed immediately by a positive reinforce, then that person is more likely to do the same thing again when he or she next encounters a similar situation 6. What is operant behavior? Describe an example, and indicate how the example fits the definition of operant behavior. a. Operant behavior: behaviors that operate on the environment to generate consequences and are in turn influenced by those consequences. Operant behaviors that are followed by reinforcers are strengthened, and operant behaviors that are followed by punishers are weakened. 7. In what way is positive reinforcement like gravity? a. Positive reinforcement is like gravity, because just as gravity is a law that we know is true, the principle of positive reinforcement is also a law. Scientific psychology has ben studying this principle in great detail since the early part of last century. 8. Describe an example of positive reinforcement of a desirable behavior that you have encountered. Identify the situation, behavior, immediate consequence, and probable longterm effects (as shown in Table 3-1 on the next page. The example should not be from the text) a. Situation: Sara and I are bored at home. b. Response: We decide to cook dinner for our housemates. c. Immediate consequences: Matt and Andrew are pleasantly surprised and thank us and spend a good night together d. Long...