PSYchology

Extinguishing Unwanted Behavior — Algorithm

  1. Don’t pay attention.
  2. Discuss later when everyone is cool.
  3. React in the moment of what is happening: the immediacy of reinforcement.

Skinner: When reinforcements no longer arrive, the reaction becomes less and less frequent; this process is called operant extinction.

When reinforcement no longer arrives, the reaction becomes less and less frequent; this process is called operant extinction. If you delay the supply of food, the pigeon will stop raising its head. In general, when we perform a behavior that no longer «does us any good,» we lose the tendency to repeat it. If we have lost a fountain pen, we are less and less likely to put our hand in the pocket where it was kept. If they don’t answer our phones, we eventually stop calling. If the piano is out of tune, then we play it less and less. If our radio gets too loud or the transmissions get worse, we stop listening to it. Skinner BF OPERATING BEHAVIOR. The history of advanced psychology. Texts. M., 1986. S. 60-95. http://intellectus.su/lib/00028.htm

Ways to deal with unwanted behavior

Here are ways to help wean yourself or others from unwanted habits. Any method works well when it is oriented towards a higher goal. That is, for example: I don’t want to quit smoking, but I don’t want to be a sick person, and it’s even better to formulate the same goal in a positive way: I want to be healthy.

  • Elimination of the problem — the «Liquidation» method — consists in the direct elimination of the very source of undesirable behavior. The dog barks at night — sell the dog. The employee is irresponsible — fire the employee. I don’t know how to plan a day — stop writing plans, and so on. The method is effective in rare situations when it is easier to invest in Liquidation than in a solution, for example, with unfamiliar people with whom you are not interested in relationships, in a conflict situation it is easier not to swear, but to apologize, even if you were right and go further, rather than deal with and restore justice.
  • Punishment — consists in creating rules that cannot be violated and penalties if they are violated. Penalties are imposed regardless of whether the behavior was corrected or not. The effectiveness of the method is doubtful, it works in rare cases.
  • negative reinforcement. Effective but troublesome. You have to keep track all the time. And contact with a person can deteriorate.
  • The method of conversation and persuasion — the «Suggestion» method — the mood to develop a new, positive habit. Effectively, but only with reasonable people who know how to work on themselves, that is, few people.
  • Behavior replacement or systematic distraction — the «Incompatible Actions» method — consists in developing another habit that is incompatible with the previous one. Used to getting up late in the morning — found a job where you need to get up early. As an independent method, it works poorly, it is better to combine it with other methods.
  • Insulation
  • Fading away
  • Signal Behavior
  • Formation of absence
  • Change of motivation

Leave a Reply