BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION IMPACT ON A PERSON’S MENTAL HEALTH 1

Behavioral Modification Impact on a Person’s Mental Health

Nicole Sherwood

COM/156

Anne Cox

April 30, 2014

BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION IMPACT ON A PERSON’S MENTAL HEALTH 2

Behavioral Modification Techniques Impact on a Person’s Mental Health

Psychology as a science studies the normal and abnormal functioning of individuals their

emotions and thinking patterns, as well as, the mental functioning of human beings. From its

definition, one can determine that psychology helps individuals solve problems related to

negative behaviors that can have negative effects on a person’s health. Psychology as a science

divided into various subfields that apply diverse techniques has developed to assist bettering

behaviors in individuals who contribute to different aspects of society. Various subfields of

psychology aim to explain the reasoning for human behaviors while others like behaviorists do

not consider that understanding the problem and its basis will help an individual change those

maladaptive behaviors.

However, what is considered maladaptive behaviors? By definition are those “behaviors,

which are conceptualized as signs or symptoms of some underlying disease process” (Wedig&

Nock, 2008, p. 518). The need to change them strives in the possibilities of bettering a person's

life by helping that person unlearn behaviors that are learned. A therapist will diagnose the

problem and “use learning principles to change undesired behaviors for more appropriate

behaviors” (Huffman, 2002, p. 544). In doing so, a behavioral therapist will take concepts from

Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, and Modeling in helping patients increase their

adaptive behaviors while decreasing maladaptive behaviors. The individual condition

determines the most proper form of therapy to be offered; while one patient may require

individual therapy others could require group or family therapy, or even do well by seeking

online therapy. In addition, in matching the proper treatment to the patient psychologist can take

on various forms, while some behavior modification techniques are effective for some conditions

others are more effective in helping change others. Therefore, people should seek assistance

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without being concerned with the impression's society might have on their conditions. Judging

the effectiveness of treatment varies from individual to individual and is affected by aspects such

as commitment, cultural and gender diversity, and the long lasting effects of some techniques.

Researchers have determined that being mentally healthy is as relevant as being physically

healthy those benefits are of multifarious consequences that provide a more balanced living to

most people. All the aforementioned aspects will be discussed in great detail aiming to create

awareness on the influence that behavioral therapy has on helping individuals deviate from

inadequate behaviors that can be present in multiple aspects of their lives.

Application of Psychology on a Daily Basis

Psychology as a science can be applied into various daily experiences. Psychology

application has divided into various subfields and techniques, which have come to be of

assistance in multiple aspects of society. Psychology subfield can be applied in various areas of

health and human services

Psychology sub-fields and their applications and benefits

Each one of the major subfields of psychology following defined have a unique approach

to particular problems. However, all these subfields share the commonality of focusing on

studying and explaining human thoughts and behaviors. For instance, abnormal or clinical

psychology deals with human psychopathology and abnormal behavior, covering disorders such

as depression, phobias, obsessions, and compulsions to certain behaviors, and helping to

evaluate, diagnose, treat some mental disorders. Behavioral psychology or behaviorism is the

subfield of psychology that dominated this science in the 1950s and states that behaviors are

learned through conditioning. Behavioral therapies are still being used in various areas like

education to help achieving expectations by implementing according reinforcements.

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Biopsychology is the branch of psychology that deals with the influences exercised by the brain

into human behavior, and identifies how physical and chemical processes affect the structure of

the brain. Cognitive psychology focuses on human internal states like motivation, problem

solving, decision-making, thinking and attention, the subfield can help determine patterns are

existing on higher mental processes. Comparative psychology studies animal behaviors to help

understanding human psychology. Cross-cultural psychology studies how cultural factors

influence human behavior in diverse societies, and how those behaviors differ in other societies.

Developmental psychology deals with the human lifespan aiming to explain how and why people

change from conception to death. Educational psychology concerns with educational problems

and students concerns to help children develop emotionally (Huffman, 2002, p. 8).

Experimental psychology uses scientific methods to research the brain and behavior and

explain diverse concepts dealing with developmental issues, behavioral problems and social

issues. Forensic psychology is the area of psychology that deals with correlating psychology and

legal proceedings. Health psychology focuses on studying the influences that biology,

psychology, behavior and social factors have on human health and illness. This subfield of

psychology helps to promote human health, with treatment and prevention of disease and illness.

Personality psychology concentrates in studying the unique patterns of thoughts, feelings, and

behaviors, which comprises a person’s personality. Social psychology tries to explain and

understand social behavior when dealing with various groups, interactions, communication and

decision making processes. Industrial and organizational psychology helps with the application

of psychology into the factors affecting human behavior in the workplace (Huffman, 2002, p. 8).

As previously presented there are multiple subfields in the science of psychology that provides

the application of these major principles of psychology in multiple aspects of human life.

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Maladaptive and Abnormal Behaviors

There is so much questioning on why people engage in certain behaviors, which can lead

that person to be diagnosed with a behavioral disorder. By definition maladaptive behaviors are

defined as signs or symptoms of some underlying disease process (Wedig& Nock, 2008, p. 518).

Other experts define maladaptive behaviors as those behaviors that restrain a person’s ability to

act in determined situations. These behaviors prevent people from acting in regular situations

that require to be handled on a daily basis. People use diverse dysfunctional escapes to deal with

those behaviors with the purpose of dealing with anxiety. However, experts consider that

maladaptive behaviors serve the purpose of obtaining a desired end involving in goal-directed

behaviors. In certain cases, they serve as a means to escape negative emotional states or to

influence other behaviors.

A study from Wedig & Nock (2008) on the functional assessment of maladaptive

behaviors: A preliminary evaluation of binge eating and purging among women confirmed that

maladaptive behaviors are used for intrapersonal and interpersonal reinforcement. This means

that people uses those behaviors as temporary reliefs from their anxieties rather than dealing with

the problem in the long run that can serve to reinforce the causes of their problems. Some of the

most common maladaptive behaviors are avoidance of the factors that trigger the anxiety on a

person, excessive use of means that provide temporary coping for fear and anxiety. People call

also withdraw from the conflict caused by the situation and quit working against the situation

and comes to accept that the condition requires changes; otherwise, recovering from the situation

will never take place, which means that a person will never meet the demands of daily

life. Abnormal behaviors are not very dissimilar to maladaptive behaviors.

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Abnormal behaviors are those patterns of emotion, thought, and actions that are

considered pathological due to statistical infrequency, disability or dysfunction, personal distress,

and/or violation of norms. This means that behaviors can be judged as abnormal when

comparing that person’s behaviors to those of others and the frequency in which those behaviors

take place. A person can be considered abnormal when his or her emotions, thoughts or actions

interfere with that person’s ability to cope with regular daily events. A person’s capacity or

regular functioning without stress can also help determine if a person’s behaviors can be

considered abnormal or not. Lastly, abnormal behavior is also identified by comparing behaviors

with those accepted by social and cultural norms of society, which can influence a person’s

behavior leading to the violation of norms. The latter can be affected by the cultural perceptions

of the society in which the individual lives.

An example of abnormal behavior is substance abuse. A person can have the urgency to

drink a daily basis until passing out this can be considered abnormal behavior when comparing it

to the behaviors of others. Being afraid of something can cause a person to behave abnormally as

such fear can impede a person’s normal processes in real life. When a factor causes a person

such high levels of stress that can also be considered abnormal behavior, and breaking social

rules can also be considered abnormal, a person who acts to satisfy his or her urgencies can be

involved in serious crimes for disregarding the rights of others.

The provided examples many times go undiagnosed as being maladaptive or abnormal

because denial and social stigma affect the possibilities of diagnosis and treatment of many

conditions (Brady, Tolliver and Verduin, 2007, p. 217). All the referenced behaviors can have

serious effects on a person’s life; consequently, require to be changed by the use of behavior

modification techniques.

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Behavior Modification TechniquesBehavior Therapies “use learning principles to change undesired behaviors for more

appropriate behaviors. Behavioral therapies are used to change maladaptive

behaviors”(Huffman, 2002, p. 544). Among the most used techniques to change behaviors.

Classical Condition Techniques

These techniques comprise Pavlov’s principles in which therapists associate two stimuli

to decrease maladaptive behaviors by creating new associations that will help to replace the

faulty behaviors. Two techniques based on this approach are the systematic desensitization and

aversion therapy. The first process involves three steps, the patient is taught to deep relaxation.

Following the therapist help the patient construct a ranking listing of factor producing the patient

anxiety. Then the patient is exposed to those factors causing anxiety and when exposed to the

factor and feeling anxious, the patient stops the exposure to the factor and returns to relaxation,

followed by new exposure to the factor. This technique seeks that the fear or anxiety response is

extinguished. The aversion therapy also uses principles of classical conditioning, which creates

additional anxiety. This means that the therapist matches an aversive stimulus and matches it to

maladaptive behavior. (Huffman, 2002, pp. 544-546)

Operant Conditioning Techniques

These strategies to change behavior involve the use of shaping and reinforcement to

increase adaptive behaviors, and punishment and extinction to decrease maladaptive behaviors.

The target behavior is defined; the patient is rewarded for the approximation to the target

behavior. Shaping can be used to deal with acquiring social skills, in which the therapy helps the

patient rehearse skills that will later be used in social skill events. Behavioral research also has

helped people learn to stop being abused and stand for him or herself. Adaptive behaviors can be

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taught by providing tokens as incentives to change behaviors. Other techniques such as

punishment and extinction can be used to decrease deviant behaviors. In these cases, the penalty

is applied trying to vanish abnormal behaviors; in the second approach rewards are removed

seeking the extinction of inadequate behaviors. (Huffman, 2002, pp. 547-548)

Modeling

As the concept states is the imitation of proper behavior by learning them. Observing

proper behaviors can lead to the learning of new adaptive behaviors, one of the most applied

modeling techniques is participant modeling, which involves live modeling and gradual practice.

(Huffman, 2002, p. 548)

Matching Behavioral Therapy with Condition

“Psychological treatment can take various forms according to the individual’s

condition”(Papalia, Old & Feldman, 2007, pp. 383-384). The most interesting fact about therapy

is that treating the individual being diagnosed is not the most appropriate form to extinguish a

behavioral problem. There are instances in which family therapy is considered the most

appropriate as a family therapy can help change maladaptive family patterns because the

problem of one family member also affects the rest of the family. In other occasions, group

therapy is the most used therapy as it is the less expensive and provides opportunities for group

support, feedback, information, and behavior rehearsal. Lastly, online therapy, regarded, as e-

therapy is the result of technology development in mental health. Therapists will provide

psychological advice and support over the Internet. Online therapy can take place by the use of

e-mail, conferencing, or online chat. Despite its critics “psychiatric interviews conducted by

telepsychiatry appear to be reliable, and patients and clinicians report high levels of satisfaction

BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION IMPACT ON A PERSON’S MENTAL HEALTH 9

with telepsychiatry”(Frueh, Deitsch,  Santos, Gold, Johnson,  Meisler,  Magruder, & Ballenger,

2000, pp. 1522-7). However, the best form of therapy for each condition is determined by the

therapist based on the assessment made of the condition (Papalia et al., 2007, pp. 383-384).

Evaluating Behavior Modification Techniques Long Lasting Effects

“Behavior modification therapy has been considered effective to treat various behavioral

disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), eating disorders, obsessive-

compulsive disorder (OCD), among other conditions”(Huffman, 2002, p. 548-558 and Morrison-

Valfre, 2005).

Seeking Assistance

Seeking assistance as previously mentioned is affected by denial and stigma. To these

factors one need to add that the recovery is unique for each, and requires that professionals

determine the extent and the most adequate therapy for the patient. (Bascetta, 2006). Behavioral

therapy is considered an effective treatment for multiple conditions such as anxiety of moderate

intensity, and it has been considered an effective method to treat depression.

Long Lasting effects

Many experts concord that the behavior therapy can be effective to treat multiple

conditions such as phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders, autism, mental

retardation, and delinquency. Some critics consider that the therapy cannot have long lasting

effects if all the therapy does to be to change a symptom for another one. However, a study from

Gloster, Hauke, Hofler, Einsle, Fydrich, Hamm, Sthrohle & Wittchen (2013) evaluating the

Long-term stability of cognitive behavioral therapy effects for panic disorder with agoraphobia: a

two-year follow-up study, concluded that most patients maintain clinically meaningful changes

two years following treatment across multiple outcome measures that approximately 1/3 of

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patients still experienced some residual problems, the current study concords with other findings

that praise behavioral therapy as effective.

Positive Effects of Behavior Modification Techniques in Mental Health

Being Mentally Healthy

Being mentally healthy is relevant as it also correlates with being physically healthy. Good

mental health is at the core of enjoying life and dealing with problems in an adequate manner.

Being mentally healthy provides that people experiences feelings of well-being and inner

strength. Having good mental health can be achieved by practicing healthy habits (U.S.DHHS,

2010).

Benefits of being Mentally Healthy

“Extensive empirical research demonstrates that several pharmacological and

psychosocial interventions are effective in improving the lives of persons with severe mental

illnesses” (Torrey, Drake, Dixon, Burns, Flynn, Rush, Clark, & Klatzer, 2001). Being mentally

healthy will provide that a person can deal with stress, as stress is considered to affect a person's

life negatively. Learning to deal with stress can ease a person's physical and mental health.

Stress in excess can trigger debilitating effects in a person's health such as additional risk for a

heart attack, anxiety, anger, and fears among other conditions that can certainly affect a person's

mental health (CMHA, 2014).

Conclusion

In concluding, it is fair to state that this research has presented the multiple applications

psychology can have on a daily basis in bettering people’s lives. This can be achieved by helping

people understand concepts such as maladaptive behaviors which require modifications for a

BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION IMPACT ON A PERSON’S MENTAL HEALTH 11

person to be considered mentally healthy, which can lead a person to live a more productive and

enjoyable life. The techniques described involved various concepts that can help a behavioral

therapist match the concepts with the patient’s condition. In demonstrating the role that

behavioral therapy has in modifying maladaptive behaviors it is also explained that therapies to

be effective should be matched the patient's condition. A person's gender and culture can affect

the results of therapy; however, an individual's commitment will have long lasting effects of

behavioral change. All these findings have been supported by various researches dealing with the

relevance of being mentally healthy for a person life.

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