In "Learning Disabilities and Challenging Behaviors: A Guide to Intervention and Classroom Management" (Mather, N., and Goldstein, S. Paul H., Brookes Publishing Co., 2001) the authors state that behavior modification techniques will always be successful, it is only that they need to be applied effectively. Behavior is constantly being changed, stopped or adjusted; the trick is for the authority figure to apply the correct counseling techniques so the subject will perform the correct behavior.
Negative Reinforcement
Counseling generally entails speaking with students, children or the subject who has behavioral issues to determine why they are acting as they do. Recommendations must take into account negative reinforcement--where the behavior the counselor is trying to change is actually rewarded. A student who wants attention and acceptance from peers may act out in class. If the counselor brings the student in front of the class and lectures about how wrong the behavior was, he is reinforcing what was done and will very likely have increased acting out from this and other students. Unfortunately, one of the only ways to avoid negative reinforcement is experience and an accurate analysis of the underlying reasons the person is acting out.
The Four Steps of Behavior Modification
In the above work, the authors explain that effective behavior modification counseling entails four steps: Defining, Designing, Reinforcing and Applying. First, the behavior must be defined. If a student is getting out of her seat to get supplies to share, it must be clarified that the getting out of the seat without permission is the problem, not that the student wants to share or is doing a favor for others.
Design
An appropriate method must be designed to reward good behavior and punish or repress bad behavior. Students of different ages, cultures and backgrounds will respond differently to various techniques. Sometimes group punishment is effective, other times it only makes the majority of well-behaved students frustrated.
Reinforce
A reinforcer must be identified. Subjects may respond well to treats, praise, or a point system where good behavior is rewarded and negative behavior has points taken away. Points must be given real value by allowing some sort of exchange or reward for a certain number of points. Some counselors do report success with younger students by just using points without rewards, based simply on the human need to do well. This reinforcer must be applied consistently and clearly to shape behavior. If punishments are not handed out equally and in a timely manner, subjects may see prejudice and unfairness, resulting in anger, frustration and reduced trust in the counselor.
Prevention
One of the most effective counseling techniques in behavior modification is prevention. This is where counselors, teachers, parents and all interested parties share information in an open and honest way, looking to design and apply programs that will stop negative behavior from beginning. Details such as classroom seating plans, clear rules, modeling of pro-social behavior, interpersonal skills training and anger management skills teaching go a long way in preventing issues from arising. In environments with older subjects, an identified grievance procedure allows an outlet rather than acting out.
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