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Behavior Modification Questions

Human behavior is defined as the physical, mental, and social activities of humans throughout their lives, which results from the complex interplay of actions, cognition, and emotions. Behavior modification refers to techniques used to increase or decrease certain behaviors and is grounded in learning and behavior theory with an emphasis on measurable behaviors and environmental adjustments. The historical roots of behavior modification began in the 1930s-1950s based on concepts of classical and operant conditioning from theorists like Pavlov, Thorndike, Watson, and Skinner, which viewed behavior as predictable from environmental factors. From the 1950s-1970s, behavior modification solidified its theoretical foundations emphasizing observable events and cognitive/mediational aspects of behavior. From the 1970s-1990

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198 views2 pages

Behavior Modification Questions

Human behavior is defined as the physical, mental, and social activities of humans throughout their lives, which results from the complex interplay of actions, cognition, and emotions. Behavior modification refers to techniques used to increase or decrease certain behaviors and is grounded in learning and behavior theory with an emphasis on measurable behaviors and environmental adjustments. The historical roots of behavior modification began in the 1930s-1950s based on concepts of classical and operant conditioning from theorists like Pavlov, Thorndike, Watson, and Skinner, which viewed behavior as predictable from environmental factors. From the 1950s-1970s, behavior modification solidified its theoretical foundations emphasizing observable events and cognitive/mediational aspects of behavior. From the 1970s-1990

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Bakulu, Virgin Hillary

Behavior Modification
Q&A

1. How is human behavior defined?


Human behavior is the potential and expressed capacity for our physical, mental, and social
activity during the phases of human life and also a complex interplay of three components:
actions, cognition, and emotions.

2. What are the defining features of human behavior modification?


Behavior modification refers to all the techniques that are used to increase or decrease the
occurrence of a particular type of behavior or reaction. According to Martin and Pear (2007)
some of the features are:
a. A strong emphasis on defining problems in terms of measurable behavior
b. Making environmental adjustments to improve functioning
c. Precise methods and rationales
d. Dynamic real-life application of techniques
e. Techniques grounded in learning and behavior theory
f. Scientific demonstration linking the imposed technique with behavior change
g. Strong emphasis on accountability

3. What are the historical roots of behavior modification?


Background (1938)
Behavior modification is based on the concept of conditioning, which is a form of
learning. What will later be the behavioral modification derives from Pavlov's classical
conditioning laws, Thorndike's law of effect, and Watson's formulations on behaviorism.

Emergence and initial developments (1938-1958)


In this period the neo-conductive theories of learning were developed: Hull, Guthrie,
Mowrer, Tolman and, above all, Skinner , Who says that behavior must be explicable,
predictable and controllable from functional relationships with its environmental antecedents and
consequent rejection of explanations based on internal constructs.

Consolidation of behavior modification: theoretical foundation (1958-1970)


This is a very behavioral stage, with a lot of emphasis on observable events and
behaviors. the theoretical contributions derive from authors from social learning: Bandura ,
Kanfer, Mischel, Staats. All of them emphasize the importance of cognitive and mediational
aspects in explaining behavior.

Expansion and methodological foundation (1970-1990)


It is a much more practical, applied stage, characterized by definitions of behavior
modification and more epistemological. Applications were separated from grounding in research
and derived theories.

Reconceptualization (1990-present)
At this stage we have tried to put theory into practice with the elaboration of several
explanatory models. They begin to use the knowledge of psychology as a science, especially
experimental cognitive psychology (research on perception, attention, memory, thinking, etc.).

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