Behaviour Modification

Behavior Modification is the field of psychology concerned with analyzing and modifying human behavior.

At Khushi, we work on the establishment of desirable behaviors and working on the problem behaviors through functional assessment. To increase desirable behaviors and decrease undesirable behaviors, we need to know why the behavior is occurring. To do so; we need to conduct an assessment of the 3 term contingency to determine the antecedent events and the reinforcing consequences to maintain it. Identifying these variables before treating a problem behavior is called as functional assessment .Functional assessment is the process of gathering information about the antecedents and consequences that are functionally related to the occurrence of a problem behavior.

Functions of problem behavior

1. Self stimulatory
2. Attention seeking
3. For tangible items
4. Avoidance behavior
5. Behavior because of medical reasons

Dimensions of behavior

1. Frequency (how often it occurs)
2. Duration (how long does it occurs)
3. Intensity

Conducting a functional assessment

1. Define behavior
2. Identify antecedents
3. Identify consequences
4. Make a hypothesis
5. On the basis of hypothesis decide treatment by modulating antecedents/consequences
6. Confirm hypothesis
7. Deduct a treatment that is functionally equivalent to the problem behavior

We also use the following behavioral principles to teach new things to a child. Reinforcement, Extinction, Punishment, Stimulus control, shaping, Prompting and transfer of stimulus control, Chaining, Differential reinforcement, and Antecedent control procedures and so on.