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Definitions in Behaviour Modification

The document outlines the functional relationship between behavior and environmental events, emphasizing the importance of functional analysis in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and address problematic behaviors. It details the steps involved in conducting a functional analysis, including defining challenging behavior, gathering information, determining the reasons for the behavior, and creating a behavior intervention plan. Additionally, it discusses characteristics of behavior modification, dimensions of behavior, assessment methods, and the Law of Effect.

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8 views

Definitions in Behaviour Modification

The document outlines the functional relationship between behavior and environmental events, emphasizing the importance of functional analysis in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and address problematic behaviors. It details the steps involved in conducting a functional analysis, including defining challenging behavior, gathering information, determining the reasons for the behavior, and creating a behavior intervention plan. Additionally, it discusses characteristics of behavior modification, dimensions of behavior, assessment methods, and the Law of Effect.

Uploaded by

2107485
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Functional Relationship

Relationship between a behaviour and an environmental event(s) (aka environmental control).

Behaviour is said to be a function of the environment.

Functional Analysis

A functional analysis is a step in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy that is used to identify


problematic thinking and where change can best begin. At its core, it is a breakdown of
operant and respondent conditioning to determine the relationship between the stimuli and
responses (Yoman, 2008).

Focuses on four areas that control problem behaviour:

 attention,
 escape,
 automatic reinforcement, and
 tangible items.

Steps of doing a functional analysis

1. Define the challenging behavior.

An FBA starts by defining the behavior in a specific and objective way. For example, instead of
saying the student is “defiant,” the team might say the student “rips up worksheets and doesn’t
respond when asked to show work in math class.”

2. Gather and analyze information.

Next, the team pulls together information and data about the behavior. For instance, it may look
at school records, interview school staff who know and work with the student, and screen or test
the student. The goal is to answer questions like:

 When and where is this behavior happening?


 Where is it not happening?
 How often is the behavior occurring?
 Who is around when it occurs?
 What tends to happen right before and right after the behavior?
The student can provide this information, too. Only kids know how they feel in the moment.
Asking them to keep track of feelings and emotions helps the team. The team might also note
how classmates react.

3. Find out the reason for the behavior.

Using the information collected, the team makes their best guess about what’s causing the
behavior. It may be that the student is trying to escape or avoid something, for example.

4. Make a plan.

Finally, led by the school psychologist or a behavior specialist, the team creates a plan based on
its best guess. Here’s where the school creates the BIP (behaviour intervention plans) to teach
and encourage positive behavior by the student. Often, as the team learns more, it will need to
adjust the plan.

Behaviour modification is the use of basic learning techniques, such as conditioning,


biofeedback, assertiveness training, positive or negative reinforcement, hypnosis, or aversion
therapy, to change unwanted individual or group behavior.

A technique, typically based on functional assessment, used to reinforce adaptive behaviors


while diminishing or extinguishing maladaptive behaviors.

Characteristics of behavior modification:

1) Focus on behaviour,

2) Based on behavioural principles,

3) Emphasis on current environmental events,

4) Precise description of procedures,

5) implemented by people in everyday life,

6) Measurement of behaviour change,

7) De-emphasis on past events as causes of behaviour, and

8) Rejection of hypothetical underlying causes of behaviour.


Characteristics of behaviour

1) Behaviour is what people do and say,

2) Behaviours have one or more dimensions,

3) Behaviours can be observed, described, and recorded,

4) Behaviours have an impact on the environment,

5) Behaviour is lawful, and

6) Behaviours may be overt or covert.

Overt V Covert Behaviour

Overt behaviour can be observed and recorded by someone other than the person engaging in the
behaviour.

Covert behaviours (aka private events) are not observable to others.

Behavioural Excess V Behavioural Deficit

Behavioural excess is an undesirable target behaviour a person wants to decrease in frequency,


duration, or intensity.

Behavioural deficit is a desirable target behaviour a person wants to increase in frequency,


duration, or intensity.

4 Physical Dimensions of Behaviour

Frequency: the number of times a behaviour occurs in a specific time period.

Latency: the time between an eliciting stimulus and the start of a behaviour.

Duration: the time from the onset of a behaviour to the offset of the behaviour.

Intensity: the most difficult dimension to measure; the physical force or magnitude of a
behaviour.

Indirect V Direct Assessment


Indirect assessment: does not occur when the target behaviour occurs; and involves interviews,
questionnaires, and rating scales.

Direct assessment: a person observes a target behaviour as it occurs.

4 Steps to Develop a Behaviour Recording Plan

1) Defining the target behaviour,

2) Determining the logistics of recording,

3) Choosing a recording method, and

4) Choosing a recording instrument.

Types of Recording Methods

1) Continuous recording,

2) Product recording,

3) Interval recording, and

4) Time sample recording.

Law of Effect

Thorndike's theory that a behaviour that produces a favourable outcome on the environment will
most likely increase in the future.

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