Behaviour modification techniques are those which are used to decrease or increase a particular type of behaviour or reaction. Behaviour modification is not about understanding a particular behaviour. It focusses on changing the behaviour.
For example, at our childhood, our parents punish us for things. It is not because they hate us but they do so to prevent us from repeating certain actions or behaviours in the future. This is a simple method of acquiring behaviour modification. Animal trainers use these modification techniques to develop obedience in pets. We even use it in our relationships and our interaction signifies what we like and what we don’t. Animal trainers use these modification techniques to develop obedience in pets. We even use it in our relationships and our interaction signifies what we like and what we don’t.
Behavioural modification relies on the concept of conditioning or learning. There are two types of conditioning:
- Classical conditioning: It relies on a particular stimulus or signal.
- Operant conditioning: It involves using a system of rewards or punishments.
The modification techniques include:
- Positive reinforcement means pairing a positive stimulus to behaviour.
- Negative reinforcement means modifying a behaviour leading to the removal of a negative stimulus.
- Punishment is designed to weaken behaviours by giving an unpleasant stimulus to behaviour.
- Flooding involves exposing people to fear involving objects or stimulus situations intensely and rapidly.
- Systematic desensitization involves teaching a client to remain calm while focussing on fears.
- Aversion therapy is pairing an unpleasant stimulus to an unwanted behaviour in order to eliminate the behaviour.
- Extinction is the removal of all reinforcement that might be associated with behaviour.
