PSYB45H3 Lecture : Textbook#25.docx
Document Summary
Behavior modification often is focused on analyzing and modifying overt behaviors. Some target behaviors may be covert that is not observable by another individual. Deon, a junior in high school, students usually called deon names or made racist comments. Deon reacted by name-calling or getting into fights; deon has been suspended on a number of occasions. Psychologist identified a # of antecedents that preceded deon"s fighting. Primary antecedent which another student called him a name or made a racist comment. Name-calling or comments from the other student preceded his autonomic arousal (anger) or angry statements preceded his fighting. Consequences for fighting varied; decrease in autonomic arousal that deon experienced after his fighting may also have been negatively reinforced. Psychologist decided to use cognitive behavior modification procedures to help deon change his angry self-statements and autonomic arousal, the covert antecedents to his fighting.
