Behavior Modification Methods

The familiar saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is as much about humans as it is about dogs. Breaking old habits and learning new ones can be a challenge at any age. Behavior modification methods are designed to simplify the process of learning new behaviors by addressing the steps necessary to create new habits.

Identification

• Behavior modification methods are based on the use of positive and negative reinforcement as a means to develop new behaviors or habits. The theory behind this approach was developed in the mid-1900s by an American behaviorist named B.F. Skinner. His theory of operant conditioning formed the foundation for modern-day behaviorist theories. Behavior modification therapies are used to treat a number of mental disorders, some of which include anxiety disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Shaping Behaviors

• Acquiring a new behavior or habit is a learning process where old behaviors are replaced with new ones. This learning process is a gradual one where small changes made on a consistent basis result in a new set of behaviors that form a new habit. Shaping a behavior involves making small, incremental changes, with a reward given for each change made along the way. Rewards are used as positive reinforcements and work to shape a person's motivation toward a certain task.

Behavior Change Process

• The transtheoretical model of behavior modification views behavior change as a five-stage process that focuses on how ready a person is to change. Pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance are the five stages in this model. Progress toward change will vary, depending on how determined a person is to incorporate new behaviors. A determined person may skip stage one, two and three and start acting on the changes that need to be made, whereas someone who is not as determined may spend more time on stages one, two, and three before actually making an effort.

Relapse Prevention Method

• Behavior change can be a challenging process, especially when old habits have become ingrained over time. Anticipating weak spots or conditions where a person is most likely to relapse into old behaviors, helps to maintain what progress has been made toward change. Once a person knows the areas in which he is most vulnerable, plans to avoid relapse can be made ahead of time. This approach--called the relapse prevention model--can be used along with the more traditional behavior modification methods as a supportive strategy for eliminating old habits.

Behavioral Control

• The theory of reasoned action is a behavior modification method that focuses on what a person's intention is for making a desired change. Self expectations and the expectations of others work to shape what a person's intention may be. If a desired change is something that is expected, there is less room for doubt in terms of whether a person is capable of making that change. In effect, a person's sense of behavioral control increases, the higher these expectations become.