Health Behavior Change Research Paper

Mr. Byrne is having trouble getting his students to listen. He is trying scolding as a punishment, but that is not working. By the end of this essay, Mr. Byrne will learn how use operant conditioning to get his seventh grade students to listen.

The theory behind behavior modification ethics has a reputation for its accomplishments and disappointments. In addition to this, there are many dangers in using physical punishment as behavior modification with the two primary modifiers of behavior being Classical conditioning and Operant conditioning. The outcome of using negative reinforcement has its share of benefits and downfalls in human behavior whereas; positive reinforcement seems to win over. Then there is the theory of Operant Conditioning of B.F. Skinner and what the public’s view on this theory is and how well it works.

This method of operant conditioning allows a person and or animal to realize when something is being done correctly and that it should be followed in the future. This method is rewarding and allows it to be beneficial for someone. According to a research conducted to treat problem behavior in Atlanta, researchers finalized that “training and treatment analysis showed that treatments based on positive reinforcement were effective at reducing problem behavior. (Call, 2014). This research proves how positive reinforcement can provide a good outcome for future behaviors.

My goal for the Behavior Change Project was to work out, starting with 3 times a week and eventually building up to 5 times a week. I didn’t want to gain the stereotypical “Freshman Fifteen”, so this was the perfect goal for me to have. Coming into my first semester of college, I knew that I would struggle maintaining a healthy diet and daily exercise, so I thought this would be the perfect time to push myself and make myself better physically and mentally. My goal affects the physical aspect of the dimensions of health.

Learning enables you as an individual, to gain more knowledge about something which you have never learned about. Learning also has to do with past experiences which are influenced by behavioural changes (Weiten, 2016). There are different types of ways to learn; through, classical conditioning, operant conditioning and observational learning which will be discussed and analysed in the essay.

How well did you meet the goal you set last week? What were your MEASURABLE results (be specific)

The long-term behavioral goal that I wish to focus on for this assignment is to do physical exercise five-days a week. Regular physical exercise would help me maintain a healthy weight, reduce my risk of heart attack and stroke, improve my mood and well-being, and is an important factor for a long and healthy life.

The two positive effects that will help me to change my behavior are to stay positive and keep positive attitude towards my goal.

Chapter three deals with procedures based in the principles of “respondent conditioning”, also known as Classical or Pavlovian conditioning. Classical conditioning is different than “operant conditioning”, in which a behavior is modified through its consequences, known as a reinforcer or punisher. These behaviors are called operant behaviors or voluntary. However, this chapter focuses on “respondent behavior”. An example of a respondent behavior includes going to the doctors and having them use the little hammer on your knee to test your reflexes. The knee jerk that happens automatically and was elicited by the little hammer is the respondent behavior. The little hammer is known as the “Unconditioned stimulus” and the knee jerk reaction is the

Operant Conditioning is a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforce of diminished by a punisher. Operant conditioning was first introduced when B.F. Skinner discovered, while he was studying the psychology of behaviorist movement, and the individual learns a particular behavior through interaction with the environment. There are many ways to apply operant conditioning to everyday life. In the environment, the events or stimulus that occur would result in the individual changing their behavior when the individual interacts with the environment. For example, if the individuals' person performs a specific action, they get a positive reinforcement, such as a treat. There are many ways that there would be an increase in the behavior of such a response in the future.  My operant conditioning example is when I am teaching my cousin's dog how to sit down. When my cousin was young she wanted a dog, and I would always watch her play with her dog named Spark. I would watch my cousin try to put Spark in the front of her two-seat car and try to strap him down, but Spark will always try to bite her.

Working with children is a great passion of mine. Supporting children and watching them develop is my main aim as I think being responsible for the healthy development of small children is both rewarding and a personal achievement. My passion to work with children came from my only nephew a few years ago when he was born. Helping him walk and teaching him to speak was a huge accomplishment for me knowing I am helping him through his early years in preparation for nursery.

Have you ever thought on how people explain about behaviour? How do we know when learning process has occurred? Learning is permanent change that happened in the way of your behaviour acts, arises from experience one’s had gone through. This kind of learning and experience are beneficial for us to adapt with new environment or surrounding (Surbhi, 2018). The most simple form of learning is conditioning which is divided into two categories which are operant conditioning and classical conditioning.

In the realm of sports psychology, there are two main theories of how coaching influences motivation, the Behavioral Approach to Coaching (BAC) and the Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Both theories work in different ways in order to increase motivation and produce desired behaviors from athletes.

During our developmental stages, we experience different learning processes that result in a range of behaviors. Two of the well known associative learning processes that are continuously studied are Operant Conditioning and Classical Conditioning. In our everyday activities we are constantly experiencing one, if not both learning theories. These theories have played an important role in our medical advancements such as in research and improvement in medicine.

Educators and learners have rights in the classroom. Insist on responsible behaviour. Use hierarchical list of consequences and encouragements, rather than praise.