An Exploration of the Application of Techniques

Behavior Modification:
An Exploration of the Application of Techniques
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Behavior Modification:
An Exploration of the Application of Techniques
1. 0Introduction
Over the years, global and scientific development has undergone numerous changes and transformations, as well as changes in focus. Indeed, from the earliest agricultural and shamanistic cultures, scientific inquiry turned to more industrial and technological advancements. However, along with these advancements also came the greater discoveries on the mechanisms of how the brain works. It is during these times that psychotherapy and psychology emerged as sciences, to provide a base point of understanding how the mind works, and how it can be used to alter or improve behavior.
In relation, behavior modification involves the various strategies or mechanisms which have been empirically tested or analyzed, and which work by increasing or decreasing the frequency of a behavior. Behavior modification as a science in itself can encompass most motile creatures, although it has become a celebrated approach in psychotherapy. Also, behavior modification can function in both negative and positive ways. Indeed, it can serve as a positive reinforcement of good and adaptive behavior, or it can serve as a negative reinforcement of an action or behavior that has to be corrected or eliminated CITATION Tho072 \l 1033 (Thomas, 2007).
In a related light, this paper will then look into behavior modification, as well as the application of the different techniques of behavior modification. An overview of behavior modification as well as its techniques will first be given, followed by a discussion of a specific technique for behavior modification. More specifically, this paper will explore the application of the technique of Behavioral Chaining. The said technique is used mainly for the creation of a new sequence of behaviors. This technique will first be explored in its overall context, and then the discussion of the actual application of the technique will be discussed. In here, the advantages and benefits of the technique of Behavioral Chaining will be discussed, followed by an exploration of its disadvantages.
2.0Overview of Behavior Modification and its Techniques
Numerous techniques for behavior modification have been developed in the past years, with each one evolving and improving. Some authors label behavior modification as an approach grounded on behaviorism. Although behavior modification is usually uses interventions that are based on the principles of behaviorism, certain differences can be observed. For one, although behavior modification includes within its coverage applied behavior analysis, some behavior modifiers who are not well-versed in behavior analysis do not perform actual functional assessments before the provision of interventions. Also, a huge number of practitioners using behavior modification, especially those who are not applied behavior analysts, tend to utilize packages of interventions rather than the focused approach of applied behavior analysis CITATION Jam80 \l 1033 (Walker & Shea, 1980).
In behavior modification, therapy cannot truly be effective unless the behavior of the patient is placed within a certain context. This placement within a context is something that can only be achieved through the process of functional behavioral assessment, which allows for better understanding of a certain behavior. As part of the behavior modification technique, assessment involves the integration of the ABC approach. This approach calls for the observation of the person`s behavior involving its Antecedent, the Behavior itself, and its Consequences. Basically, before behavior modification can proceed, the therapist must first determine what happened exactly before the behavior, during the behavior being studied (what it looks like), and what occurs right after the behavior CITATION WEd00 \l 1033 (Craighead, Kazdin, & Mahoney, 2000).
This principles and concepts then serve as the basis for the application of the techniques of behavior modification. Indeed, they will serve as the guide for the analysis of the application of the technique of behavioral chaining to be conducted in this paper. Still, before the said analysis of the application of the said technique, a brief overview of the technique itself will be provided in the next section of the paper.
3.0Behavior Modification Technique: Behavioral Chaining
Behavioral Chaining is in its basic an instructional process that is used to enforce a series of responses. Through proper training, the series of responses occur in such a manner that a co...