Edward Thorndike was the first person to describe behavior therapy in 1911. He was focused on methods that modify behavior. Clearly, there was a reason to wish that some particular behavior be altered; thus implying that behavior can become malfunctioned and subsequently requires timely repair like a mechanical or electrical devices. Behavior therapy is as old as civilization itself. Asking a third person for advice regarding how to deal with the ill impact of another’s actions on oneself is behavior therapy. There are wide ranges of techniques that can be used to change the behavior of oneself or another. Pure behavior therapy without mindfulness is seen in animals (it is well understood as training). Human behavior is usually connected with thoughts and feelings. These are incorporated in the therapy paradigm.
Understanding behavior Behavior is defined as anything that a human or animal does which is observable by another. Thoughts are different from behavior as it seems like no one can measure them; likewise emotion too. However thought and emotion impact behavior, thus alteration of either leads to behavior change. Behaviorists believe believe that personal thinking and environmental controls define behavior. Since human nature is manipulated by infinite number and varieties of influencers, understanding behavior mechanics is important to implement change in a ‘dysfunctional’ behavior and mitigate ‘positive’ behaviors. While traditional behavior modification approaches are known to each one who wishes to change the conduct of another (rewarding a good action and punishing a bad one), the minds of today are more complex and markedly stubborn, thus behavior modification and behavior therapy ought to follow scientific principles and must be guided by experts.
Learning and unlearning Behavior is a learned phenomenon. Everything we (or our spouses or children or friends or neighbors) do has been learned and has become a pattern. And if this is unwanted and uncomfortable, it needs to change. Behavior therapy aims at breaking an unwanted pattern. Some of these faulty patterns may be:
- Smoking behaviors
- Drinking behaviors
- Aggressive conduct
- Short-temperedness
- Thumbsucking habit
- Nail biting patterns
- Nagging behaviors
- Apathetic attitudes
- And several more…
Faulty learning The procedure involves an initial analysis of the unwanted behavior in great detail. The therapist may take lengthy in depth interviews to understand the faulty behavior (temper tantrum in a child or smoking for instance in an adult). The pattern of dysfunction is identified. There is always some precursor or certain aftermath of a particular behavior that makes it repetitive. Seldom would we repeat an action that brings negative outcomes. Tantrums attract attention and lead to fulfillment of desires in children, smoking outwardly eases tension and apprehension in adults; thus the mind tends to repeat these actions. Behaviors thus get deeply engrained.
Unlearning
The challenge is to break inappropriate behavior by unlearning the reward and conditioning oneself to change the situation or thought or emotion associated with it, in order to change the behavior itself. Complex behaviors are broken down into simpler steps and small successes are monitored in order to achieve greater heights in personal improvement. Often the task seems overwhelming but when broken down, it becomes plausible and attainable. Rewards can be set for the stepwise tasks, homework assignments are allotted and regular checks are kept in place. There are over 30 different behavior modification strategies at MINDFRAMES and each of these target specific negative behavior patterns. The mind is highly moldable, if only we choose to soften it and shape it rightly. After all, one that doesn't bend either stays as it is (rigid, unyielding, unappreciated and despised) or breaks. Make the wiser choice!
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