REBOOT WELLNESS
Behavioural Modification
Techniques for children
Mannat
child psychologist & speecial educator
Going back to
our childhood
An introduction to Bheavior
modification
Behavior modification is the process of changing patterns of human behavior over the long
term using various motivational techniques, mainly consequences (negative
reinforcement) and rewards (positive reinforcement). The ultimate goal is to swap
objectionable, problematic, or disagreeable behaviors with more positive, desirable behaviors.
Behavior modification works with just about everyone and has many
potential applications, from improving a child’s behavior to motivating employees to work
more efficiently.
The basics
Behavior modification is also used often to
treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD), irrational fears, drug and alcohol
addiction issues, generalized anxiety
disorder, and separation anxiety disorder in
clinical settings
The Basics
Behavior modification says that we can change the
way we act, or react, by learning and by attaching
consequences to our actions. You can’t force
someone to change their behavior. You can,
however, motivate them to change their behavior
by changing the environment and offering
incentives.
Various behavioural techniques have been used
successfully by teachers to manage behaviour
probiems of children individnally on one to
one basis and in theclassroom/school Setting
positive Reinforcement
positive reinforcement is Extinction
rewarding good behavior When the reinforcements
with some kind of for
motivator. curbing or encouraging
This might take the form behavior are decreased or
of discontinued altogether, this is
known as
The basic
verbal praise, extending a punishment, which involves
privilege, or offering some
taking something away.
kind of remuneration.
Techniques Negative Reinforcement
Two types of negative
reinforcement are positive
punishment, where adding a
consequence is supposed to
deter future repetition of bad
behavior, and negative
extinction. This is most often
used in terms of a parent
giving attention to a child who
has an attention-seeking habit.
shaping
The process of shaping
reinforces behaviors that are
similar to a new, more
desirable behavior. This usually
occurs in steps and is often
applied in cases where the
ultimate goal is to overcome
irrational fears or manage
anxiety disorders.
Faiding
Also referred to as conditioning,
fading is the process of gradually
withdrawing the reinforcement
The Basic until artificial motivation is no
longer needed.
Techniqiues
Chaining
Behavior chains link individual behaviorsto
form a larger behavior. By breaking down
a task into its simplest and most basic steps,
it minimizes the potentially overwhelming
factor of seeing the larger behavior by
itself.
A behavior chain for forming a habit
Punishment
Techniques
Problem behaviors can be managed by controlling or
changing the antecedents.
For example, when the child is not engaged in any
activity he/ she tends to rock their body , or if allowing
a child to sit next to the window leads to the problem
of inattention to tasks, then suitable changes in the
Changing environment could alone prevent the problem
the .
Antecedents If the child does not obey instructions given by the
teacher due to lack of comprehension, then providing
the instructions in simple language could help the
child to carry out the instructions.
Time out method includes removing the child from
the reward or the reward from the child for a
particular period of time following a problem
behaviour.
Time Out
Ensure that rewards or a rewarding situation is removed
following the problem behaviour. If a child is removed
from a situation which he does not like then it may act as
a reward and may only lead to an increase in the problem
behaviour
Extinction means removal of attention rewards
permanently following a problem behaviour. This
Extinction includes actions like not looking at the child,
not talking to the child, having no physical
contact with the child following the problem
behaviour, etc.
Physical
Physical restraint involves restricting the physical movements of
the child for sometime following a problem behavior.
While indulging in some types of problem behaviors, a
restraint
few children may completely loose control of
themselves. They may even harm themselves by banging
head, biting self, etc. Sometimes, they may harm others
by hitting, slapping, etc. At such times, it becomes
necessary to physically stop the child from indulging in
such problem behaviours.
Response
There are many ways in which response cost
techniques can be applied in the school or
classroom settings.
cost If a child refuses to work on asignments during class
time, he will loose the privilege of free time after
school. A child, who has earned a badge following
desirable behaviour will loose it when he indulges in a
problem
behaviour. Thus
he pays a cost
for his
undesirable
behaviour.
The use of this technique will
not only decrease problem
Restitution / behaviors in children, but also
Over Correction teach appropriate ways of
behaving.
Wherein the system of Token Economy
Token Economy is used in a school/classroom, teachers
can arrange for the child to receive
tokens on performing specific good
behaviours and loose tokens for
indulging in specific bad behaviours.
Non - Punishment
technique
Graduated exposure techniques are
especially used to decrease fears in
children, either in the school or home
setting. The procedure of graduated
exposure involves a step by step gradual
exposing of the child to a feared
Graduate exposure person, place, object or a situation.
of fears
Eg : keep distance while you hold a child's hand
Then, bring him closer to the dog while he gets ,
initially let him pass by the dog from a long
portunity to observe a model with the dog.
Eventually, take him closer to the dog, and if the
dog is friendly, get him to touch it with his
hands.
case study
