Many effective techniques exist that assist in the management of a child's problematic behavior. These skills may be learned and applied by a professional mental health therapist and parents at home. Dr. William O'Donohue and Dr. Leonard Krasner indicate in "Theories of Behavior Therapy: Exploring Behavior Change" that many behavioral therapists were influenced heavily by B.F. Skinner, who in the 1970s developed many of the techniques still used today.
Positive Reinforcement
Dr. Alan Kazdin writes in "Behavioral Modification in Applied Settings" that positive reinforcement refers to anything that increases the chances that a particular response or behavior will come as a result of a positive reinforcer. In other words, if a parent or caregiver wants a child to behave in a certain way, she should provide positive reinforcement when the child shows the behavior. Dr. Kazdin provides a variety of examples of positive reinforcers that have various strengths and limitations. These include use of food, social reinforcers such as praise, affection or a smile, feedback such as telling the child how much he has changed, and tokens such as chips, coins or tickets. When the child displays a desired behavior, he is provided with a token, providing an immediate reinforcement. The tokens accumulate over time and the child can turn them in for a reward later on, providing additional reinforcement of the desired behavior.
Negative Reinforcement
Dr. Kazdin indicates that this form of reinforcement works to increase the probability of a behavior through the child wanting to avoid an undesired event. In other words, a child can avoid something bad from happening--such as receiving a time-out, going to bed early or loss of a privilege--by engaging in a desired behavior or avoiding doing a problem behavior.
Punishment
Providing punishment after a problem behavior has occurred may be effective in lessening the probability of a child showing that behavior again in the future. Dr. Kazdin indicates that punishment may take different forms, including the use of verbal statements such as warnings, disapproval or reprimands; use of time-outs in which the child is isolated, removing attention and reinforcement; a response cost, such as a loss of a privilege or physical possession; and overcorrection, such as writing a phrase repeatedly on a chalk board or having to clean up the whole house.
Skills Training
Dr. Richard Farmer and Dr. Alexander Chapman write in the book "Behavioral Interventions in Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Practical Guidance for Putting Theory into Action" that skills training works to teach a child how to more effectively behave. Skills training has been found to be effective in treating depression, schizophrenia, improving interpersonal communication and management of emotions, including anger. The goal encompasses teaching the child to develop a higher level of flexibility in how he responds to and behaves in certain situations. Examples include teaching and promoting the use of relaxation and distraction techniques, effective communication and assertiveness skills, and healthy coping strategies.
References
- "Behavioral Interventions in Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Practical Guidance for Putting Theory into Action"; Richard F. Farmer, Ph.D. and Alexander L. Chapman, Ph.D.; 2008
- "Behavioral Modification in Applied Settings, Sixth Edition"; Alan E. Kazdin, Ph.D.; 2001
- "Theories of Behavior Therapy: Exploring Behavior Change"; William O'Donohue, Ph.D. and Leonard Krasner, Ph.d.; 1995
