Chapter 1
Introduction to Behavior Modification
Chapter Outline
Defining Human Behavior
Examples of Behavior
Defining Behavior Modification
Characteristics of Behavior Modification
Historical Roots of Behavior Modification
Major Figures
Early Behavior Modification Researchers
Major Publications and Events
Areas of Application
Developmental Disabilities
Mental Illness
Education and Special Education
Rehabilitation
Community Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Business, Industry, and Human Services
Self-management
Child Management
, Prevention
Sports Psychology
Health-Related Behaviors
Gerontology
The Structure of This Textbook
Measurement of Behavior and Behavior Change
Basic Principles of Behavior
Procedures to Establish New Behavior
Procedures to Increase Desirable Behavior and Decrease Undesirable Behavior
Other Behavior Change Procedures
Chapter Summary
Key Terms
Practice Test
Chapter 1, Quiz 1
Chapter 1, Quiz 2
Chapter 1, Quiz 3
Ideas for Class Activities
1. Ask students to share what they think behavior modification is all about before reviewing the characteristics of
behavior modification in the chapter.
2. Discuss a few research articles in which behavior modification procedures were used to address socially
significant problems to illustrate some of the areas of application of behavior modification.
Answers to Practice Test Questions
,1. Behavior is what people do and say. Behavior involves an individual’s actions.
2. An example of a description of behavior is: Jennifer screamed at her mother, ran upstairs, and slammed the door to
her room. A label that may be applied to this behavior is “anger.”
3. The four physical dimensions of behavior that can be observed and recorded are:
(1) frequency —the number of times a behavior occurs; (2) duration—the time from when an instance of the behavior
starts until it stops; (3) intensity—the physical force involved in the behavior; and latency—the time from some
stimulus to the onset of the behavior.
4. Turning a light switch to the off position has an effect on the physical environment in that it causes the light to go
off. Asking a question has an effect on the social environment when another individual provides an answer to the
question.
5. To say that behavior is lawful is to say that its occurrence is systematically influenced by environmental events. A
“functional relationship” refers to how our behavior is influenced by, or occurs as a function of, environmental events.
6. An overt behavior is an action of an individual that can be observed and recorded by an individual other than the one
engaging in the behavior. An example of an overt behavior is talking. Covert behaviors, on the other hand, are not
observable to others. For example, thinking is a covert behavior. This textbook will focus on behavior modification
with overt behaviors.
7. The six characteristics of behavior are as follows:
- Behavior is what people do and say
- Behaviors have one or more dimensions
- Behaviors can be observed, described, and recorded
- Behaviors have an impact on the environment
- Behavior is lawful
- Behaviors may be overt or covert
8. Behavior modification is the application of basic principles originally derived from experimental research with
laboratory animals.
, 9. Human behavior is controlled by events in the immediate environment. However, a label might be mistakenly
identified as a cause of behavior. A label is derived from observable patterns of behavior. For example, to say that an
autistic child engages in problem behaviors because he is autistic is incorrect. Rather, the label of autism is made based
on a pattern of behaviors observed in the child. The label cannot be the cause of the behavior because the label does not
exist as a physical entity or event.
10. By describing behavior modification procedures precisely, researchers and other professionals make it more likely
that the procedures will be used correctly each time to produce the desired changes in behavior.
11. While behavior modification procedures are developed by professionals or paraprofessionals trained in behavior
modification, the procedures are often implemented by people such as teachers, parents, job supervisors, or others.
12. It is important to measure behavior before and after behavior modification procedures are used to document the
behavior change resulting from the use of the behavior modification procedures.