BASIC PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS (FROM CORRECTIONAL CLASSIFICATION AND TREATMENT - A READER, 1975, BY LEONARD J HIPPCHEN--SEE NCJ 32007)

• NCJ Number: 49124
• Author(s): S A SHAH
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Anderson Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

SOME OF THE KEY TERMS AND PRINCIPLES OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION ARE BRIEFLY EXPLAINED, AND THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF BEHAVIOR IS ALSO DISCUSSED.

Abstract

BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION IS DEFINED AS 'THE APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES DERIVED FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL LEARNING THEORY TO THE TREATMENT OF MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIORS.' IT IS INDICATED THAT THE BEHAVIOR THERAPIST GENERALLY ASKS THREE MAIN QUESTIONS IN STARTING A PROGRAM OF TREATMENT: (1) WHAT BEHAVIOR IS MALADAPTIVE; (2) WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS CURRENTLY MAINTAIN THE BEHAVIOR; AND (3) WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES MAY BE MANIPULATED TO INFLUENCE THE BEHAVIOR. WHEN TREATMENT INVOLVES OFFENDERS, ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS IS INDICATED TO BE THE CESSATION OF ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIORS, AND ADDITIONALLY, TO DEVELOP MORE CONSTRUCTIVE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT. BECAUSE BEHAVIOR IS VIEWED AS INVOLVING AN INTERACTION BETWEEN AN INDIVIDUAL AND A PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENT, EFFORTS AT ITS MODIFICATION HAVE TO BE DIRECTED NOT ONLY AT THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT ALSO TO ALTERATIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENT THAT STIMULATES BEHAVIOR. MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR, JUST LIKE ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR, IS LEARNED IN A PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENT, BUT IS ONE THAT STIMULATES THE ORGANISM TO DEFEND ITSELF AND MEET ITS NEEDS THROUGH BEHAVIOR THAT IS THREATENING TO THE NORMATIVE PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR PRESUMABLY TAUGHT AND LEARNED IN A PARTICULAR CULTURE. BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION CONSISTS OF THE STRUCTURING OF AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR CAN NO LONGER SERVE TO SATISFY THE NEEDS OR MEET THE SURVIVAL GOALS OF THE PERSON, WHILE REINFORCING ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR BY MAKING THE ENVIRONMENT RESPONSIVE TO SUCH BEHAVIOR. THIS PROCESS IS STRUCTURED ON A STEP-BY-STEP BASIS TAILORED TO THE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL. IN THE CASE OF CRIMINAL OFFENDERS, THE GOAL IS TO TEACH BEHAVIOR THAT CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED IN REAL SOCIETY. THIS MAY INVOLVE THE CAREFUL CHANNELING OF THE EX-OFFENDER INTO POSITIVE REINFORCING ENVIRONMENTS ON RELEASE OR PROVIDING SUFFICIENT SUPPORT FOR HIM TO MANAGE OR RESIST ENVIRONMENTAL STIMULI THAT ENCOURAGE PREVIOUS MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR. SEE NCJ 32007 (RCB)