How to Change Behaviour

Behaviour Modification

Whenever you wonder why a colleague (or a child) does something, which to you seems inexplicable, you should ask yourself these three questions:

1. What were the conditions that preceded and triggered the behaviour?
2. Did the person behaving, gain any form of benefit as a result of his/her behaviour?
3. If he/she did gain a benefit, what was it?

Let us investigate the interesting world of "behaviour modification".

What is the definition of behaviour modification?

Behaviour modification is a system of planned interventions, which are designed to interrupt a current "problematic behaviour" and cause it to change to a more "desirable behaviour" (ie the target behaviour).

Behaviour modification is based upon a three-part sequence called A.B.C:

1. Antecedent: Refers to the conditions that preceded the behaviour. The antecedent asks the question, "What was going-on in the environment prior to the behaviour?"
2. Behaviour: Refers to the specific action, that the person did or said. The behaviour asks the question, "What exactly did this person actually do?" or "When placed in a certain set of conditions, how do people behave?"
3. Consequence: Refers to the new conditions that immediately follow the behaviour. The consequent asks, "What changes occurred in the conditions, as a consequence of the behaviour? and, "How did those changes affect the person behaving? The most interesting question is: after the behaviour, did the person behaving gain anything?

Let us make an underlying assumption explicit: the assumption is "Everything happens for a reason."

But there are two types of reasons: causes, and purposes, and it is important to understand that:

1. The cause of the behaviour is the Antecedent.
2. The purpose of the behaviour is the Consequence.

Here is a fact of human nature: Everyone wants the current situation to give them what they want.

Therefore if, in any set of circumstances, a person performs an action (a behaviour), that results in them gaining an immediate benefit, then that behaviour is more likely to occur. (The benefit must be regarded from the behaver's personal perspective, not your benefit, nor "for the Good of the Many").

So, when you are wondering why a person behaves in a way which, to you, seems inexplicable, you might ask those three questions:

1. What were the conditions that triggered the behaviour?
2. What happened to the person behaving after the behaviour; did they gain a benefit, (measured from the perspective of the person behaving)?
3. If they did gain a benefit, what was it?

Example one:
Imagine an 8-year-old child who always misbehaves whenever he is in the supermarket, food shopping with his parent. The child constantly cries, pulls, shouts, and stamps his feet. The parent, in an attempt to mollify the child, buys him a bar of chocolate.

When asked why he gave the child chocolate, the parent said, "Because I needed to calm him down and to shut him up".

Ultimately, what do you think the parent is training the child to do and to believe?

The parent is accidentally training the child to misbehave, because the chocolate POSITIVELY reinforces the child's BAD behaviour.

Positive reinforcement.

If you were wise, you would never positively reinforce a negative behaviour.

In addition, the parent is inadvertently training the child to believe that "bad behaviour pays dividends".

Here are two principles to note:

• Never positively reinforce a negative behaviour
• Only positively reinforce good behaviours

Example two: If a person at work speaks harshly and swears at his manager and, as a result, the manager relents and gives the aggressor what he wants, just to shut him up and get rid of the problem behaviour, then ultimately, what is the manager training the person to do?

Here is the key principle to understanding behaviour modification:

It is the Perceived Consequences of a behaviour that determine whether it will be repeated. (The consequences must be viewed from the perspective of the person behaving, not from the perspective of onlookers, or considerations of what constitutes The General Good).

In relation to consequences there are three types:

1. Beneficial consequences.
2. No consequences.
3. Detrimental consequences.

Here is a new diagram of the extended concept:

If a person behaves in a particular way, and does so repeatedly, then we can assume they perceive that the behaviour is producing some kind of beneficial consequence. (From their perspective, not yours, nor anyone else's).

As long as the person continues to receive a perceived benefit for behaving in a certain way, that behaviour will continue.

Similarly, if a person is failing to do something that you want them to do, then it is because the person perceives either:

• No benefit for doing it, or
• They think the behaviour will lead to a dis-benefit, or painful consequence.

To repeat, the detrimental consequence must be considered from the perspective of the person behaving, not you, nor the greater good.

If you want to modify a behaviour, then the first thing to do is to analyse the immediate consequences, that happen to the person behaving.

1. If your analysis shows the person behaving is receiving an immediate benefit, of any kind, then that behaviour is likely to reoccur.
2. If you want to change that behaviour, then you must remove its beneficial consequences.
3. If your analysis shows the person is not receiving any dis-benefit for a bad behaviour, then you should ensure that either no benefit should follow a bad behaviour, ie No positive reinforcement.
4. Or "painful consequences" should always follow a bad behaviour. Negative reinforcement.

If you change the consequences, then you will change the behaviour.

If you have a bad habit, such as eating too much (or eating too little), then ask yourself the following questions?

1. What immediate benefits does your subconscious mind believe you are gaining from engaging in this "unwanted behaviour"?
2. How can you arrange things in your head so that the unwanted behaviour is associated to either: no benefit or painful consequences?
3. How can arrange things in your head so that you begin to attach more benefits to an alternative corrective behaviour?

Definition: behaviour modification

Behaviour modification is a people management process that tracks the cue before an act, the act itself, and the result after it. By removing the gain or adding a cost to bad acts, and by giving clear reward to good ones, it stops old habits and builds new, better habits.

Article Summary

Behaviour modification is clear: spot the trigger, name the act, and set the result. When bad behaviour no longer brings a gain, or brings a cost, it fades. When good behaviour earns quick praise or other clear benefit, it grows. Change the result and you change the behaviour-in children, co-workers, and yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.

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Did You Know: Key Statistics

About the Author: Chris Farmer

Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.

Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.

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