Behavior Modification for Children

As far as we can tell, the concepts of behavior modification for children go back to ideas first written about in the early 1900's by Edward Thorndike. The ideas have grown and changed through research since then. B.F. Skinner (pictured at right), one of the most widely known proponents of behavior modification techniques, discussed the concepts in his work on operant conditioning.

Basically, behavior modification for children applies parenting techniques that attempt to mold, or shape, a child's behaviors through reinforcement or the lack of it.

Get more background information at Behavior Modification Techniques.

Properly applied, behavior modification strategies can result in:

• Fairly rapid behavior change.


• More appropriate behaviors and fewer inappropriate behaviors.


• Greater clarity of understanding between you and your children.


• More objective evaluation of your children. (Less negative labeling of them.)


• Less stress and conflict in your household.

Here's where you can go wrong with this approach:

• Used too heavily or too rigidly the approach can have significant negative impact on your relationship.


• If you don't do your homework in advance of applying behavior modification techniques, you could unintentionally reinforce the behaviors you don't want to see.


• You need to understand yourself and your children pretty well to effectively apply behavior modification techniques.


• Used alone, without the added benefit of other, positive parenting techniques can encourage your children to "game the system" by behaving appropriately only when rewarded.


• If you don't find ways to balance both positive and negative reinforcement, you will probably over apply one or the other. (Going too far either way has bad implications.)

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