BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION :: essays research papers

carriage adaption is based on the principles of operant conditioning, which were developed by American behaviorist B.F. Skinner. In his research, he put a rat in a cage later known as the Skinner Box, in which the rat could receive a food pellet by press on a bar. The food reward acted as a payoff by strengthening the rats bar-pressing behavior. Skinner studied how the rats behavior changed in repartee to differing patterns of support. By studying the way the rats operated on their environment, Skinner formulated the thought of operant conditioning, through which behavior could be shaped by reinforcement or lack of it. Skinner considered his discovery applicable to a roomy range of both human and animal behaviors(Behavior, 2001). Today, behavior qualifying is using up to treat a variety of problems in both adults and children. Behavior modification has been successfully used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, phobias, bedwetti ng, fretting disorder, and separation anxiety disorder. Behavior modification is not used to treat disorders and problems, it is as well used to increase a desire behavior. An example of a behavior many try to increase is their athletic abilities including speed, strength, and endurance (Fedor, 1990). Athletes use a variety of behavior modification techniques to accomplish their overall end. The just about widely used is positive reinforcement, which encourages certain behaviors through a establishment of rewards. Following rewarding desirable behavior, behavior modification can also discourage unwanted behavior, through either negative reinforcement, or punishment. This could be removal of a privilege or an undesired event. Behavior modification in athletics requires the development of goals. It needs one overall goal as well as small step goals. Goal backcloth is one of the strongest motivational tools. Studies have shown that goals should be broken down into short or inte rmediate goals to help attain the ultimate goals goals must be accepted by the individual challenging goals are better than unclouded ones tracking progress is useful to remain committed to goals and a protrude of action facilitates goal attainment (Annesi, 2004). With the addition of a written fetch binding the athlete to their goals it acts as another enforcer to accomplish their desired behavior. Behavior modification, or behavioural therapy, trains individuals to replace undesirable behaviors with healthier behavioral patterns.