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Methods of Behavior Modification

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Student Learning Objectives

1. Compare and contrast positive and negative reinforcement.

2. Evaluate the effects of punishment.

3. Describe effective behavior modification.

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Terms The following terms are presented in this lesson (shown in bold italics):

behavior modification corporal punishment external rewards internal rewards negative reinforcement positive reinforcement punishment self-efficacy

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Objective 1

Compare and contrast positive and negative reinforcement.

Anticipated Problem: What is the difference between positive and

negative reinforcement?

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Objective 1 (cont’d)

I. Positive and negative reinforcementA. Positive reinforcement is the giving or

granting of a reward based on a behavior.

1. External rewards are tangible items (money, trophies, toys, stickers, etc.) and also intangible items (handshake, smile, words of encouragement

or praise, applause, etc.) used to positively reinforce a behavior.

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Objective 1 (cont’d)

A. Positive reinforcement (cont’d) 2. Internal rewards are inner rewards that

encourage a person to repeat a behavior (pride, sense of completion, personal accomplishment, self-confidence.

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Objective 1 (cont’d)

B. Negative reinforcement is the removal of something or the changing of a condition that a person does not desire. By removing the unwanted, it will allow a person to recognize how his or her actions created an undesirable circumstance.

*Negative reinforcement is not the same as punishment.

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Objective 1 (cont’d)

B. Negative reinforcement examples1. Negative reinforcement may consist of removing

a child’s toy airplane from a house roof. The child wishes to play with the airplane, but will learn through negative reinforcement that if he throws

it on the roof, he can no longer play with it.

2. It may also mean that a boss does not praise an employee for a report that is unsatisfactory. The employee will then work to provide a satisfactory report to retrieve praise from the boss.

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Objective 2

Evaluate the effects of punishment.

Anticipated Problem: How does punishment affect an individual?

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Objective 2 (cont’d)

II. Avoiding punishmentA. Punishment consists of words or actions

that are unwanted by a person. (examples: a video game taken from a child, speeding ticket given for driving too fast,)

*Punishment can be an effective way to modify a person’s behavior, however, it

does so in a negative way and should be avoided.

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Objective 2 (cont’d)

II. Avoiding punishment (cont’d)B. Corporal punishment is the use of

physical force to inflict discomfort in order to change behavior in a person.

(ex: spanking, paddling a child - illegal in public schools and childcare centers in Illinois)

*Corporal punishment can produce negative side effects for the development of children and should be avoided.

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Objective 2 (cont’d)

To read more about corporal punishment laws in IL, visit:www.illinoislegalaid.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.dsp_content&content

ID=2596

To read more about IL Eldercare Law and resources visit:www.illinoislegalaid.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.dsp_Content&content ID=4238

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Objective 3

Describe effective behavior modification.

Anticipated Problem: How is an individual’s behavior

effectively modified?

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Objective 3 (cont’d)

III. Behavior modificationA. Behavior modification is the

practice of changing unacceptable behavior through

the rewarding of acceptable behavior. It is the most effective way to work with all ages and development levels of people. It values all people.

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Objective 3 (cont’d)

III. Behavior modification (cont’d)

B. Behavior modification creates self-efficacy, the ability of a person to build self-confidence.

C. Behavior modification could be used as an alternative to punishment in many ways.

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Objective 3 (cont’d)

C. Behavior modification examples1. Provide a space where individuals can calm

themselves if needed. A quiet corner could help a child or an adult calm down from a stressful situation.

2. Allow individuals to fix their own undesirable behaviors. If a person spills a liquid in the kitchen, permit them to clean the mess, rather than punishing the behavior.

3. Set clear expectations. Make sure that people are aware of the rules that must be followed.

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Review

List some examples of external rewards and internal rewards.

What are the negative side effects of corporal punishment?

Explain why behavior modification is the most effective way to work with all ages to make a change in unacceptable behavior.