The Reasons for Inappropriate Behaviour in Regards to Going to the Gym - Essay Example

The Reasons for Inappropriate Behaviour in regards to going to gym Target behaviour is the defined, observable, measurable behaviour that is the focus of analysis and intervention. It is subject to behaviour modification, a technique that is made formal for promoting the frequency of attractive behaviours and reducing the occurrences of unwanted behaviours. Behavior change is brought about by experience or practice and can be enhanced by operant conditioning or respondent conditioning. Operant conditioning is a voluntary conditioning whereas respondent conditioning is an involuntary conditioning. The target behavior i.e. going to the gym was a voluntary activity as it is an exercise that is done consciously. Going to the gym is a behavior that needs discipline as it involves the use of energy while at it and consistency in timing- for example when to report and how long to take. Each session has its stipulated tasks which a person has to adhere to strictly if they have to achieve the goal that takes them there in the first place. Mostly people would go to the gym to keep fit, to cut off excess weight or just to keep muscles in check in the case of sportsmen and women. Maintaining this behavior could have numerous health benefits such as good flow of blood and respiration, create fruitful ties through social networking and improve ones skills in task management and coordination. Inconsistency, on the other hand, could lead to physical strains such as muscle pull and fatigue. The Reasons for Inappropriate Behaviour in regards to going to gym Target behaviour is the defined, observable, measurable behaviour that is the focus of analysis and intervention. It is subject to behaviour modification, a technique that is made formal for promoting the frequency of attractive behaviours and reducing the occurrences of unwanted behaviours. Operational definition is an observation of which 2 or more uninterested observers will be able to pick out. With regards to “going to the gym,” the observable trends would include amongst others: the frequency of attending a gym, latency and duration (Alberto & Troutman 1999). Frequency of behaviour is the number of times the behaviour surfaces over a given period and is gotten by counting the number of times the behaviour occurs, and rate determines it. For example, the attendance of a person for a given period, say one week (Carr & Burkholder 1998). Gym attendance should be regular, although it is advisable that after every five to six weeks, someone should try a different set of exercise (Carr & Burkholder 1998). This is because after a certain period, the exercise will no longer have effect on the body. Latency describes the time from some occurrence to the beginning of the behaviour. Here it would likely be from the time the gym was established to the time he individual under observation began visiting the place. Duration refers to the total time spent occupied by the behaviour from start to end. It is given as a percentage of the observation period (Carr & Burkholder 1998). It would be indeed important to increase the number of times one attends the gym to ensure physical fitness. At least once each day early in the morning for 2 hours with the exception of one day every week and maintaining that frequency would be fine. This would be possible by creating reinforcements to this behaviour either through verbal praise, consistency in attendance, keeping records to facilitate close monitoring and conducting frequent evaluations to gauge how far one is in track with his resolutions. Maintaining the target behaviour excess or deficit entails the use of socially mediated positive reinforcements, socially mediated negative reinforcements automatic positive reinforcements to keep the behaviour at the desired rate. Socially mediated positive reinforcement is something delivered by another person that increases the number of times the behaviour is likely to occur such as attention. Socially mediated negative reinforcements entail the removal of certain things that are aversive by another person. This after a behaviour that causes the behaviour to be more likely to occur and automatic positive reinforcements are the reactions in one’s body that prompt for the occurrence of the behaviour in question. A functional analysis can also be carried out. A functional analysis is an assessment process through which the controlling environmental variables of behaviour are identified. They can then be manipulated to alter the behaviour. Functional analysis involves five steps: functional interview, direct observation, experimental manipulations, functional analysis summary and behaviour lesson plan (Carbone & Gina, 1980). Among the things that would motivate me not to engage in the target behaviour is inadequate time due to many commitments, negative comments by individuals, and physical constraints amongst others. Those things that are likely to increase the frequency of the target behaviour would include; availability of free leisure hours, body promptings, encouraging comments from people and the benefits seen from earlier trials. Behavior change is brought about by experience or practice and can be enhanced by operant conditioning or respondent conditioning. Operant conditioning is a voluntary conditioning whereas respondent conditioning is an involuntary conditioning. The target behavior i.e. going to the gym was a voluntary activity as it is an exercise that is done consciously. This type of behavior learning (voluntary learning) is classified as operant conditioning. In operant conditioning, the action is maintained by the result they bring about on the individual. The response is also necessary for the education to continue. If the desire was to have a muscular body and the target behavior produces the effect then learning continues. The learning also involves reinforcements in the form of rewards for positive conditioning and punishment for negative conditioning. This practice is learning involved rewards such as favorite food and treats when I accomplished my weekly goals. Additionally the growing of muscles and constant encouragement from friends and relatives seemed to be a great reward for the learning hence the target behavior was initially learned by operant conditioning. To modify the behavior it is assumed that the observed behaviors are excellent targets for modification. Typically all behaviors follow standard rules and hence methods can be designed to alter the behaviors (Mather & Goldstein, 2010). Behavior modification can be made through reinforcements such as punishments and rewards. It can also be made by acquiring the functional counterpart of the problem behavior or altering the antecedents of the problem behavior. In this case it can be achieved by analyzing if the weights lifted are too heavy and then lowering them if they are too heavy. Setting and maintaining weekly goals is another behavior change method. Another behavior change can be changing the penalty or reward given at the end of the exercise depending on whether it was a success or failure. If it becomes a problem then, the rewards will be taken away, and if doesn’t then the rewards will be maintained or increased altogether (University of California San Francisco, 2014). The final behavior modification will be to control the home environment so that it matches what is required by the target behavior. This change may be brought by eating healthy food and minimizing fatty food or even providing a suitable environment for regular exercises at home. Behavioral deficits are the good qualities of the behavior that are to be increased. Positive reinforcements are administered to increase a behavioral deficit. This can be achieved through rewards like watching a movie after going to the gym or treats like eating the favorite food. This acts as a positive reinforcement as it makes me go to the gym more often so that the reward can be acquired (Huitt, 1997). Behavioral excess, on the other hand, are the things that are being overdone in the behavior. In operant conditioning, this is reduced by changing the reward involved in the exercise if there is any. In this case the idea will be to impose a punishment such as sleeping late to reduce the excess. Consequences govern a target behavior; positive results act as motivation to keep on with the behavior, negative results make individuals refrain. Going to the gym is a behavior that needs discipline as it involves the use of energy while at it and consistency in timing- for example when to report and how long to take. Each session has its stipulated tasks which a person has to adhere to strictly if they have to achieve the goal that takes them there in the first place. Mostly people would go to the gym to keep fit, to cut off excess weight or just to keep muscles in check in the case of sportsmen and women. Maintaining this behavior could have numerous health benefits such as good flow of blood and respiration, create fruitful ties through social networking and improve ones skills in task management and coordination. Inconsistency, on the other hand, could lead to physical strains such as muscle pull and fatigue. Also, it could be the difference between life and death when ailments such as hypertension and obesity are involved, and exercising is the only possible way to combat them. Defining behavior (Sara, 2012). It is not wholly necessary for everyone to go to the gym. There are people who would walk long distances as required by their occupation or due to lack of resources while others prefer to jog. When all such instances are kept constant, there are factors that would increase or decrease the frequency of this behavior. For instance, high-stress levels make people more activity-oriented. To keep off bombarding thoughts, these people are more likely to frequent the gym. Emotional turmoil could cause High-stress levels, for example, a recent break up in a relationship, difficulties in marriage or family wrangles. Financial instability too could add up to stress, people who have recently lost their jobs or those who do not have any income generating activity mostly they find themselves immobile. Therefore, they would like to stay hopeful as they keep fit and kill time, the gym is their number one preferred destination (Malott & Trojan, 2008). Competition is the greatest motivation. Sportsmen and women need to build and maintain their muscles by carrying weights and stretching their tendons to adapt to play. There are much equipment for every active organ; therefore, the sessions act as a complete simulation without necessarily having to go to the field every time. In the light of the impending competition such as a marathon, the athletes are likely to frequent the gym more often to keep their leg muscles active and ready for the price ahead. Comfort causes a decreased frequency of this behavior. When people achieve what they targeted, they tend to relax a little. An overweight person, for example, after cutting off lots of unnecessary fats may cease going to the gym even with the knowledge that upon such laxity he or she is likely to regain that weight ten times as fast. Without a goal, motivation is wiped out what exists is only formality, and people are poor at keeping up to schedules that dont give them returns. Change in occupation, environment or social status could also lead to decreased frequency in accessing the gym. People who have relocated would need time to spot a gym they like and start sessions there. The mind is accustomed to the familiarity, this strange new environment may not defer their principles but it puts them on the adaptation bench. When you get a new job, your routine will have to change to match with the timing of the boss. Many activities would have to come to a sudden stand still as you readjust. The target behavior was initial learned from constant repetition on a particular time; this created a routine that is attached to consequences. In this case the gym goer was rewarded by weight loss or winning a competition. The consistency of this behavior was motivated by result rather than stimuli. It is, therefore, an instant of operant conditioning- a voluntary process that is motivated by consequences that have occurred overtime. To modify the behavior, one must be aware all the rewards have to attach to it. For example, as long as one goes to the gym, they could eat as much food as they like knowing that they are going to burn it up anyways. The exhaustion caused by exercising would give the Persona comfortable sound sleep at night and they are more likely to enjoy their shower as it cools down and freshens their heat-frenzied bodies (Des Moines Area Community College research, 2013). In conclusion, to increase a behavioral deficit, I would enlighten people of its positive results. For example, people hate to read but if they learn that more reading makes them analytical and fluent in speech, they will take up the task. To decrease a behavioral excess, people need to learn the negative consequences of overdoing something, too much TV, for example, keeps you entertained and safe, but it could lead to a sedentary lifestyle that could be a prescription for cancer. References Alberto, P. C., & Troutman, A. C. (1999). Applied behavior analysis for teachers (5th Ed.). Merrill: Columbus. Carbone, V. J. & Gina Z. (1980). How to conduct functional assessment. Retrieved from, http://www.armstrong.edu/images/psychology/FunctionalAssessment.pdf Carr, J. E. & Burkholder, E. O. (1998). Creating single-subject design graphs with Microsoft Excel™. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 31, 245-251. http://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/behavior_modification_ideas_for_weight_mana gement/ Des Moines Area Community College research. (2013). Operant vs. Respondent conditioning. Retrieved from www.dmacc.edu/ Huitt, W. &. (1997). An Introduction to Operant (Instrumental) Conditioning. Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/behavior/operant.html Malott, R. W., & Trojan, E. A. (2008). Principles of behavior (6th Ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson. Mather, N., & Goldstein, S. (2010). Behavior Modification in the Classroom. Retrieved September 21, 2014, from LDOnline: http://www.ldonline.org/article/6030/ Sara, C. B. 2012. Behavior Analysts of Central Alabama. Auburn University University of California San Francisco. (2014). Behavior Modification Ideas for Weight Management. Retrieved from Read More