behavior mod exam 1

What is behavior?

anything that a person says or does.

What is behavior modification and what are its components?

-systematic application of learning principles and techniques to assess and improve the overt and covert behaviors

-defining problems in terms of behavior that can be measured in some way and using changes

-treatment procedures and techniques are ways of altering an individual's current environment

-methods and rationales can be described precisely

-techniques are often applied by individuals in everyday life

-techniques stem from basic and applied research in the science of learning in general

-scientific demonstration that intervention caused behavior change

-high value on accountability for everyone involved in behavior modification programs

What is behavioral assessment?

-refers to the scientific study of laws that govern the behavior of human beings and other animals.

-The science upon behavior modification is based

involves the collection and analysis of information and data in order to

(a) identify and describe target behaviors;

(b) identify possible causes of the behavior;

(c) guide the selection of an appropriate behavioral treatment;

(d) evaluate treatment outcome.

behavioral deficit

--too little behavior of a particular type

Ex: not making bed

behavioral excess

--Too much behavior

Ex: biting nails

intelligence and creativity

-it refers to ways of behaving.

-Intelligence: Summary Label for Behaviors to describe how people behave under certain conditions: readily solves problems, knowledgeable about many topics, gets a high score on an intelligence test.

-Creativity: Summary Label for Behaviour: Behaviors that are novel or unusual and that at the same time have desirable effects.

the dimensions of behavior

-Duration: length of time a behavior lasts

-Rate: number of instances a behavior occurs in a time period, frequency

-Intensity or force: physical effort or energy involved in doing a behavior

covert behavior

-cognitive behaviors

-ex: self-talk

overt behavior

can be directly observed

ex: riding a bike

behavior analysis

behavior modification in which there is typically an attempt to analyze or clearly demonstrate controlling variables of the behavior of concern

target behaviors

behaviors to be improved in a behavior modification program

environment

the individual's immediate physical surroundings

outcome of a behavior

behaviors you want

Why define problems in terms of behavioral excess or behavioral deficit?

1. To help avoid the problem of using general summary labels.

2. Because it is behavior that causes concern- and that behavior must be treated to alleviate the problem.

3. Specific procedures are now available that can be used to improve behavior in schools, at work and at home.

summary label

-General terms for discussing behavior. Labels for actions but nonspecific to any one particular behavior

-Summary labels: "honest, carefree, hardworking, unreliable, independent, selfish, incompetent, kind, graceful, nervous"

-may lead to pseudo- explanations of behavior (pseudo meaning false)

-labels can negatively affect the way an individual might be treated

stimuli

physical variables that make up a person's environment.

misconceptions

Myth 1: Use of rewards by behavior modifiers to change behavior is bribery.

Myth 2: Behavior modification involves the use of drugs and electroconvulsive therapy.

Myth 3: Behavior modification treats symptoms not the underlying problems

Myth 4: Behavior modification can deal with simple problems, , but it is not applicable for complex problems

Myth 5: Behavior modifiers are cold and unfeeling

Myth 6: Behavior modifiers deal only with observable behavior;

Myth 7: Behavior modifiers deny the importance of genetics or heredity in determining behavior.

Myth 8: Behavior modification is outdated.

cognitive behavior

thinking behavior.

university teaching.

(a) the instructional goals for a course are stated in the form of study questions and application exercises,

(b) students are given opportunities to demonstrate their mastery of the course content through assignments

(c) students are given detailed information at the beginning of a course about what is expected of them on the tests and assignments

Behavioral sport psychology.

-involves the use of behavior analysis principles and techniques to enhance the performance and satisfaction of athletes and others associated with sports

-Motivating proactive and fitness training, teaching new athletic skills, control emotions interfering with performance, help athletes to cope with pressure at sporting events

organizational behavior management.

the application of behavioral principles and methods to the study and control of individual or group behavior within organizational settings

Behavioral medicine.

broad interdisciplinary field linking health, illness, behavior

Health psychology.

how psychological factors can influence or cause illness and how people can be encouraged to practice healthy behavior to prevent health problems

Behavioral community psychology.

Applications to socially significant problems in unstructured community settings where the behavior of individuals is not considered deviant in the traditional sense

phases of behavioral assessment

1.Screening or intake

2.Defining the target behavior

3.Pre-program or baseline-assessment

4.treatment

5.Follow-up

Screening or intake phase

-Basic info - demographics, presenting issues

-Appropriate agency? - are you in the right place?

-Inform about rules, policies, procedures

-Screen for crisis - mental health, self-harming, aggression, intent

-Diagnosis - psychiatric, behavioral, mandated reporting

-Which behavior to focus on? - can't do it all at once

Defining the target behavior phase

-Level of target behavior prior to intervention

-Behavioral excess? - too much behavior

-Behavioral deficit? - too little behavior

Pre-program or baseline assessment phase

-Assess target behavior to:

--Determine its level prior to introduction of the program or treatment

--Analyze individual's current environment to identify possible controlling variables or causes of behavior(s) to change

treatment

-Design program

--Education - training or teaching program

--Clinical - intervention strategy or therapy program

-Creating a plan that is hands on

-Apply program

-Measure behavior

follow up

Are improvements maintained?

Focus on persistence of behavioral change

Natural environment generalization

direct assessment

person observes a target behavior as it occurs.

indirect assessment

does not occur when the target behavior occurs; and involves interviews, questionnaires, and rating scales

direct assessment advantages and disadvantages

-Advantage:

--More accurate than indirect assessment

-Disadvantages

--Time consuming

--Observers need to be trained

--Cannot monitor covert behaviors

--People behave better when they know they are being observed

indirect assessment advantages and disadvantages

-advantage