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Behavior Modification

Definition

Behavior modification is a therapeutic approach designed to change a particular undesirable negative behavior by using a system of rewards and consequences.

Analogy

Think of behavior modification like training your pet dog. If you want your dog to sit, you give it a treat when it does so (reward). If it jumps on the couch, you might ignore it or put it in time-out (consequence). Over time, the dog learns which behaviors get treats and which ones lead to being ignored or punished.

Related terms

Operant Conditioning: This is a type of learning where behavior is controlled by consequences. Key concepts in operant conditioning are positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment.

Reinforcement: It's an outcome that strengthens the probability of a response or behavior. For example, giving your dog a treat for sitting down reinforces that behavior.

Extinction: In psychology terms, extinction refers to the gradual weakening of a conditioned response that results in the behavior decreasing or disappearing. For instance, if you stop giving your dog treats for sitting down, eventually he may stop doing this action altogether.