5 Ways to Use Behavior Modification Techniques

1. Communicate With Both the Child and the Parent

Behavior modification techniques need to address the root source of the concern, either by encouraging the child to adopt positive behavior or discouraging him from engaging in negative behavior. There is a tendency to lump all bad behavior into simple explanations, such as pandering for attention, but it may be more complex than that. Children can't always express how they feel, so it is important to talk with them and watch for signs of deeper problems. If you're a teacher, then you should speak to the child's parents, who have a much better idea about what's going on in his life. Continue communication while you're engaging in behavior modification, and look for feedback about the effectiveness of your techniques.

2. Be Clear About the Specific Behavior

You should always describe the behavior you are attempting to discourage or reinforce. Even if the child is unaware of it or doesn't realize she is engaging in it, it still stresses the behavior in her mind. It also emphasizes what you expect of her and how she is meeting or failing to meet those expectations. The more specific you can be, the better. For instance, you can point out how the child carried out each step of a math problem, rather than just saying "good job on your math." Always make eye contact when you speak to a child and ensure that she is looking at you when you talk.

3. Focus on Attribution Rather Than Coercion

Attribution means pointing out the child's actual behavior instead of trying to persuade him to enact or refrain from such behavior in the future. For example, you can say "you're working very hard on those math problems," instead of "you should work harder when you do your math assignments." Attribution draws a direct connection between the child's behavior and a reward or punishment, while also reminding the child that he has the ability to alter or change his behavior.

4. Show Enthusiasm for Positive Behavior

When you're enthusiastic about a child's behavior or the rewards he is expected to receive, you help get the child excited, too. It implies that positive behavior is important to you and that you're interested in the child doing well. With rewards, it helps to build up anticipation and to make the child realize that she has a say in whether or not she earns them. Anticipation can generate further excitement, which makes the child more willing to engage in the positive behavior and less apt to treat it as an unpleasant chore.

5. Apply Timing, Consistency and Intensity to Negative Reinforcement

Punishments for bad behavior need to focus on three specific aspects: the timing of the punishment, the consistency with which it is applied, and its intensity in relation to the negative behavior. For the first, you should always apply negative reinforcement as quickly as possible after the child exhibits bad behavior. It draws a clear line between the behavior and its consequences and allows the child to better understand the link. A trickier job comes in determining the intensity of the punishment. If it is too mild, the child will likely just shrug it off, which defeats the purpose. If it is too extreme, however, it may fall under the realm of abuse and can cause larger problems in the child. Finally, punishments need to be firmly and consistently applied. The child should understand exactly what he has done wrong and know exactly what he can expect when he does.