What is behaviour generally - Answers behaviour is anything that a person says or does
what is behaviour technically - Answers behaviour is any muscular, glandular or electrical
activity of an organism
give three synonyms for behaviour - Answers action, activity and performance
Describe two dimensions of behaviour and give an example of each - Answers the duration -
how long the behaviour lasts.
- example: she ran for 30 min
the frequency - how many times the behaviour is performed within a specific time frame
- example: he swam 10 laps in 5 minutes. 10 laps would be the frequency
What is a behavioural deficit? give two examples - Answers - too little of a type of behaviour
- ex. not studying enough for an exam, not exercising enough to maintain good health
What is a behavioural excess? Give two examples. - Answers too much of a particular type of
behaviour
- smoking, drinking large amounts of alcohol, teenager lying excessively
Define behaviour modification - Answers the systematic application of learning principles and
techniques to assess and improve individual's overt and covert behaviours in order to enhance
their daily functioning.
State seven characteristics of modification - Answers 1. emphasis on defining problems in
terms of behaviours that can be measured in some way and using changes in the behavioural
measure of the problem as the best indicator of the extent to which the problem is being helped
2. its treatment procedures and techniques are ways of altering an individual's current
environment to help that individual function more fully
3. the methods and rationales can be described precisely
4. the techniques of behavioural mod are often applied by individuals in everyday life
5. the techniques stem from research in the science of learning in general and the principles of
operant and p\Pavlovian conditioning in particular
6. behaviour mod. emphasizes scientific demonstration that a particular intervention was
,responsible for a particular behaviour change.
7. Behaviour mod. also places high value on accountability for everyone involved in the
programs including staff, clients, consultants etc.
Define behavioural assessment - Answers involves the collection and analysis of information
and data in order to:
a) identify and describe target behaviours
b) identify possible causes of behaviour
c) guide the selection of an appropriate behavioural treatment
d) evaluate treatment outcome
Briefly describe B. F. Skinner's influence on early behaviour modification - Answers BF Skinner
distinguished between pavlovian conditioning and operant conditioning. Pavlovian conditioning
involves reflexes - automatic responses to prior stimuli - while operant conditioning is based on
consequences (rewards and punishments etc. ).
He influence many other psychologists to follow his lead and apply operant conditioning in a
variety of ways. later these applications began to be referred to as behaviour modification.
List four myths or misconceptions about behaviour modification - Answers 1. use of rewards by
behaviour mod. to change behaviour is bribery
2. behaviour modification involves the use of drugs, psychosurgery, and electroconvulsive
therapy
3.behaviour mod changes only symptoms but doesn't get at the underlying problems
4. behaviour mod. can be applied to deal with simple problems such as toilet training or
overcoming fear of heights but not applicable for changing complex problems such as low self-
esteem or depression
What is key to ensuring ethical and effective treatment programs by applied behavior analysts
(ABAs)/beahviour therapists (BTs) - Answers ABAs and BTs should perform a thorough
behavioural assessment prior to applying interventions, and continue to evaluate through the
process. it includes monitoring of data by concerned parties that is the cornerstone for ensuring
ethical and effective treatment programs by ABAs and BTs
List four behaviours of children with autism that have been modified using behaviour
modification - Answers a. social behaviours
, b. play behaviours
c. self-stimulatory behaviours
d. language skills
List four behaviours in the area of self-management of personal problems that have been
modified by behaviour modified techniques - Answers a. saving money
b. exercising
c. engaging in good study habits
d. controlling gambling habits
What is health psychology - Answers health psychology considers how psychological factors
can influence or cause illness, and how people can be encourage to practice healthy behaviour
so as to prevent health problems
List five areas of application within health psychology - Answers 1. Direct treatment of medical
problems: problems like headaches, backaches or stomach problems may have a learning
component as well as a medical component. health psychologists develop behavioural
techniques to teat symptoms like theses directly
2. Establishing treatment compliance: because it is behaviour, compliance with medical
regimens is natural for behaviour modification
3. Promotion of Healthy Living: An important area of behaviour modification involves the
application of techniques to help people manage their own behaviours to stay healthy. this
involves promoting eating moderate sized, well balance meals, exercising frequently and
avoiding alcohol and smoking
4. management of caregivers: healthy psychologists deal with the behaviour of the clients
family friends and medical staff concerned with the clients health. Changing the behaviour of
medical professionals to improve services provided to patients in receiving increased attention
5. Stress Management: concerned with the study of stressors, their effects on behaviour and
the development of behavioural strategies for coping with stressors
Define behavioural community psychology - Answers applications to socially significant
problems in unstructured community setting where the behaviour of individuals in not
considered deviant in the traditional sense
Define organizational behaviour management (OBM) - Answers OBM is defined as the
application of behavioural principles and methods to the study and control of individual or group
behaviour within organizational settings