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These days we hear the words “behavior modification” perhaps too often. But even people from the same family might have absolutely different comprehension of this term.
Behavior modification is a system of rewards (and sometimes punishments) designed to influence behavior in children. It is a technique used by psychologists as an effective tool for young children and youth with behavioral issues or learning disabilities. Quite simply, desirable behaviors are singled out and promoted using positive reinforcement.
Being simple, this technique still is very effective mostly due to its simplicity. Behavior modification allows teenagers to simplify the complex array of thoughts and opinions that they might have acquired during their life. This is necessary for teenagers who have problems their relationships or with substance abuse or who have any disorders. By singling out specific behaviors and working to modify them through a cooperative approach, distractions are reduced and expectations become clear.
Parents who struggle with their problem teenagers can sometimes resort to extreme measures to improve or correct their teen’s behavior. This can involve, for example, applications to military schools or boot camps or other strict programs. There are benefits in such approaches, but there are also concerns. If parents want to generate long-term changes in their problem teenager as well as cultivate important values, military-style boot camps would not be effective.
Therapeutic boarding schools provide an effective alternative to military-like intervention programs. Residential programs approach necessary learning and modification in much more cooperative and supportive manner. By removing a youth from his or her normal environment, many of the problematic distractions are eliminated. This clears the path for the development of new ways of behaving and interacting with others. In contrast with the authoritarianism of juvenile boot camps, wilderness programs for struggling teens use experiential learning and positive reinforcement of constructive behavior. This lays the foundation for a fresh new start upon returning to the home environment, allowing parents to then employ consistent behavior modification and management practices to maintain a positive relationship with their teens.
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