Designing, Applying and Evaluating a Self-Modification Program

Excerpts from the Paper

Designing, Applying and Evaluating a Self-Modification Program
As Kirsch et al. (2004) note, the development of operant conditioning is, from a classical psychology perspective, considered to be a matter of stimulus and response. When a person practices a certain type of behaviour, they are learning a different way of doing things. Skinner (1981) tells us that this pattern of learning leads to reinforcement of behaviours that are considered to be beneficial, and protect us from harming ourselves. But in order for individuals to choose the right types of behaviours, Skinner (1981) notes that they have to be open to varying the way that they do things to find better methods of interacting with the world. Weiten (2004) also adds that the best...

.....s can be adapted so that, over time, there may be a way for individuals to change the way that they operate and learn a different way of doing things to make themselves more successful.
References
Kirsch, I., Lynn, S., Vigorito, M., and Miller, R. (2004). The
Role of Cognition in Classical and Operant Conditioning. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 60(4), 369-392.
Skinner, B.F. (1981). Selection by Consequences. Science, 213,
501-504.
Weiten, W. (2004). Psychology: Themes and Variations. Belmont,
CA: Wadsworth/Thomas.
Appendix
Table 1: Hours Watching Television
Before Behaviour Modification
After Behaviour Modification
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
4.3 hours
4.1 hours
3.6 hours
4.8 hours
3 hours
3.2 hours
2.9 hours
1.8 hours