Topic 1: Introduction to Behavior Modification

Question 1

Behavior

Answer 1

the subject matter of behavior modification

behavior is what a person says or does, it involves a person’s actions

Question 1

Dimensions

Answer 1

an aspect of the behavior that can be measured and modified

relevant dimensions may include frequency, duration, intensity, and latency

Question 2

Frequency

Answer 2

a dimension of behavior, specifically the number of times a behavior occurs in a specific time period

the number of responses (frequency) divided by the time equals the rate of behavior

Question 3

Duration

Answer 3

a dimension of behavior, specifically the time from the onset of the behavior to the offset of the behavior

duration is how long an instance of behavior lasts

Question 4

Intensity

Answer 4

a dimension of behavior, specifically the physical force or magnitude of the behavior

often measured with a recording instrument or on a rating scale

Question 5

Latency

Answer 5

a dimension of behavior, specifically the time from some stimulus to the onset of behavior

Question 6

Overt Behavior

Answer 6

behavior that can be observed and recorded by a person other than the one engaging in the behavior

Question 7

Covert Behaviors

Answer 7

behavior that is not observable to others, also called private events

Question 8

What are the characteristics of behavior?

Answer 8

behavior is what people do and say

behaviors have dimensions

behaviors can be observed, described, and recorded

behaviors have an impact on the environment

behavior is lawful

behaviors may be overt or covert

Question 9

Behavior Modification

Answer 9

the field of psychology concerned with analyzing and modifying human behavior (also called applied behavior analysis)

Question 10

Target Behavior

Answer 10

in behavior modification, the behavior to be modified

Question 11

Behavioral Excess

Answer 11

an undesirable target behavior that a person seeks to decrease in frequency, duration, or intensity

Question 12

Behavioral Deficit

Answer 12

a desirable target behavior that a person seeks to increase in frequency, duration, or intensity

Question 13

Behaviorism

Answer 13

the philosophy of the science of behavior

the core tenants are that behavior is lawful and controlled by environmental events occurring in close temporal relation to the behavior

Question 14

Experimental Analysis of Behavior

Answer 14

the scientific study of behavior and the types of environmental events that are functionally related to the occurrence of behavior

involves laboratory research with nonhumans and humans

Question 15

Applied Behavioral Analysis

Answer 15

a term often used interchangeably with the term behavior modification

it involves analyzing and modifying human behavior

Question 16

Controlling Variables

Answer 16

the environmental factors (antecedents and consequences) that influence the probability of a particular behavior

they are the consequences that are functionally related to the behavior

Question 17

What are the characteristics of behavior modification as listed in the textbook?

Answer 17

focus on behavior

guided by the theory and philosophy of behaviorism

based on behavioral principles

emphasis on current environmental events

precise description of procedures

implemented by people in everyday life

measurement of behavior change

de-emphasis on past events as causes of behavior

rejection of hypothetical underlying causes of behavior

Question 18

Law of Effect

Answer 18

states that a behavior that produces a favorable effect on the environment will be more likely to be repeated in the future

Question 19

What is overt behavior?

Answer 19

objectively measurable

verbal (using language), or motor (using the body)

Question 20

What is covert behavior?

Answer 20

not observable by others (may only be inferred from overt behaviors)

also called “private events”

e.g. thoughts and feelings

Question 21

What is a target behavior?

Answer 21

the behavior to be modified

Question 22

What is a response?

Answer 22

one instance or occurrence of a behavior

Question 23

What is a response class?

Answer 23

a group of responses with the same function

that is, each response in the group produces the same effect on the environment (the same consequences)

you could drink one cup of water from a glass, a bottle, or a coconut with a straw, but you would still quench your thirst

Question 24

What is a repertoire?

Answer 24

the collection of all behaviors a person can perform

Question 25

What are some things that behavior is not?

Answer 25

interpretive descriptions of a personality trait (e.g. honest, introverted) diagnostic label (e.g. depression, bipolar disorder) products of behavior (e.g. losing weight)

Question 26

What is the Dead Man Test (Ogden Lindsley, 1965)?

Answer 26

"If a dead man can do it, then it ain't behavior, and if a dead man can't do it, then it is behavior"

Question 27

How can behaviors and the environment interact?

Answer 27

the environment can lead to certain behaviors behaviors can affect one's environment environmental consequences of a behavior can affect subsequent behaviors

Question 28

What was the Fisher, Godwin, & Seltman (2014) study on how cluttered classroom affect students?

Answer 28

participants were 24 kindergarten students independent variable: research laboratory modified to look like a classroom (either a decorated-classroom condition or a sparse-classroom condition) children participated in six science lessons over a 2-week period off-task behavior: children were distracted 38.6% of time in the decorated classroom vs. 28.4% in the sparse classroom learning: test scores were lower in the decorated classroom (42%) vs. sparse classroom (55%) conclusions: decorated classrooms produce more off-task behavior, and decreased learning

Question 29

What are the three aspects of psychology?

Answer 29

theoretical experimental applied

Question 30

What is the theoretical aspect of psychology?

Answer 30

conceptual thinking, done at a computer, at a desk, in an office

Question 31

What is the experimental aspect of psychology?

Answer 31

basic research, often with animals in a lab

Question 32

What is the applied aspect of psychology?

Answer 32

practical research and treatments to solve a problem, usually on people, in the real world

Question 33

What is behaviorism?

Answer 33

philosophy of the science of behavior

Question 34

What is experimental analysis of behavior?

Answer 34

basic scientific research on the functional relationship between environmental events and resulting behavior

Question 35

What is behavior modification?

Answer 35

the application of experimentally derived laws of learning to human behavior, and providing behavior analytic services to consumers

Question 36

What is the definition of behavior modification?

Answer 36

includes analyzing the relationship between environment and behavior and changing the environment to help people modify their behavior these are applied to reach the goal of improving people's lives

Question 37

What are the characteristics of behavior modification as seen in the lecture notes?

Answer 37

typically defines problems in terms of measurable behavior likewise, solutions are evaluated in terms of those same behaviors treatments work by affecting an individual's environment, comprised of stimuli: things perceptible in one's immediate environment all aspects are defined specifically, and in detail (including stimuli and behaviors) can be applied by non-professionals based on the scientific study of learning, and the two kinds of conditioning (operant and respondent) emphasizes scientific evidence in evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention does not rely on hypothetical constructs: theoretical concept that mediate behavior places high importance on accountability for everyone experiencing, administering, and overseeing treatment programs

Question 38

What are the myths and misconceptions about behavior modification and rebuttals?

Answer 38

using rewards is bribery [our behaviors persist because they are reinforced, whether we realize it or not] ignores the root causes of behavior and just treats the symptoms [antecedent causes are important; further root causes cannot always be determined anyway] does not deal with thoughts or feelings, just behaviors [behavior modification can be applied to cognitions or affect] can eb applies to simple problems (e.g. toilet training), but not too complex ones (e.g. low self-esteem) [works with all kinds of problems behaviors, even psychological disorders] makes people dependent on external incentives; ruins intrinsic motivation [well-designed programs ensure maintenance of behavior] it only works on children or those with disabilities [correctly implemented programs can be applied to anyone] is outdated [has gained new relevance in helping those with autism] treatment methods are dehumanizing, like those in A Clockwork Orange [there are strict ethical controls to prevent abuse]

Question 39

What is applied behavior analysis (ABA)?

Answer 39

using knowledge about human behavior to reduce socially undesirable behaviors and/or increase desirable ones

Question 40

What is the relationship between behavior modification and applied behavior analysis?

Answer 40

some consider behavior modification to be equivalent to applied behavior analysis others consider the term "ABA" a replacement for the term "behavior modification" still others see behavior modification as a larger category that includes: ABA, application of respondent conditioning, behavior therapy, and cognitive behavior therapy

Question 41

What was psychology in the 19th century?

Answer 41

the scientific study of conscious experience example: introspection of the conscious experience of tasting lemonade criticisms: introspection is unreliable, invalid, and not objective

Question 42

What was psychology in the 20th century?

Answer 42

the science of observable behavior no more study of consciousness

Question 43

Who was Ivan Pavlov?

Answer 43

respondent behaviors are involuntary; elicited by stimuli that precede them stimulus and response from a reflex S-R psychology: focused on how environmental events and stimuli (S) affect responses (R)

Question 44

Who was E.L. Thorndike?

Answer 44

described the law of effect: a behavior that has a favorable outcome is more likely to occur again in that situation in the future example: a cat placed in a "puzzle box" would discover how to open it and get food, and gradually would improve this behavior discussed how an animal can "modify it behavior" but did not coin the term behavior modification

Question 45

Who was J.B. Watson?

Answer 45

founded behaviorism developed methodological behaviorism: the study of behavior alone, not of any internal, mental state or event (1913) rationale: mental events cannot be objectively observed or studied proposed that most human activities were learned habits S-R models

Question 46

Who was B.F. Skinner?

Answer 46

awarded 1969 US National Medal of Science radical behaviorism and the S-R-S model

Question 47

What is radical behaviorism?

Answer 47

Skinner's philosophy on the science of behavior goal is understand and explain all behavior this includes "private events" that occur "inside the skin" (e.g. thoughts and feelings)

Question 48

What are private events?

Answer 48

are behaviors, have no special properties different from 'public" behaviors only in that they are not directly accessible to others influenced by the same kinds of variables as publicly accessible behaviors

Question 49

What is the S-R-S model?

Answer 49

a.k.a. three-term contingency, or ABCs of behavior Antecedent stimulus produces --> Behavior (or response) which in turn produces --> Consequence (also a stimulus or event): reinforcement or punishment

Question 50

What are some areas of application of behavior modification?

Answer 50

autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities clinical behavior analysis/cognitive behavior therapies environmental sustainability parenting and parent/child relationships medical care health education sport psychology employment settings self-management