Behavior Modification Strategies in Controlling Teenage Smoking - Case Study Example

Behavior modification report Name Instructor’s name Institution of study PSYC2500 2012 Content: Title The role of behavior modification strategies in controlling teenage smoking Abstract Teenage smoking as a habit develops as a result of peer influence and this habit has become popular both at school and at home. Teenagers engage in the practice in order to identify with a group by pleasing its members or they copy it from role models such as parent as well as the media and which play a significant role inculcating the habit among youths. This habit leads to health complications namely lung cancer, emphysema among many others. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies to help teenagers stop the habit. This report targeted teenage smoking in high school x selected at random from the region. Observers were trained and surveillance cameras were installed without the knowledge of the target to collect the baseline data. Once the baseline was established intervention programs were designed based on scholarly work in the field such as Skinner, J. b. Watson and Pavlov as well as the proponents of covert conditioning. The program was implemented with students’ sensitization on the effects of the habit through covert conditioning in an attempt to counter the spread of the habit. The program involved counseling session’s movies and homework that required the commitment of key players. Data was collected analyzed and the result were positive because the behavior was eliminated in 90% of the target group however some challenges were encountered including resistance which was addressed and modifications made to improve on the program. Introduction According to [Ray11] in [Ray11] and Skinner in [Dua07] [Dua07]behavior modification refers to a technique common among behavioral experts that helps to change the behavior of a subject according to a specific model or set of rules that have been tested and approved for the same. This report seeks to shed light on behavior modification with reference to the behavior identified and in so doing we will employ ideas advanced by great scholars in the field of psychology. In order to test and approve the hypothesis the report will follow the following guidelines. 1. Describing the target behavior and why it was selected 2. Describing the base line and how the baseline data was gathered 3. Describing the design of the program 4. Describing the implementation of the program 5. Program evaluation through the assessment of difficulties/challenges encountered, necessary modifications, the success/strengths and recommendations. 6. A conclusion containing a summary of the main findings of the project. Body The report targets smoking which is a very common behavior among teenagers and it occurs both at home and school. At school smoking takes place in isolated areas where the teachers and persons in authority aren’t aware of. For instance it happens in the restrooms during break time and shortly after students leave school in the presence of peer members. In most cases each member smokes one cigarette during each break within five minutes however the peers take two during the last break and all this time the students involved chat in low tones peeping in the direction of the administration block after the other students vacate the restroom areas. The behavior was selected because of the increasing smoking trends among high school students heightening the need to establish the cause and put up appropriate mechanism to stop reverse the trend and if possible stop it because of the health issues involved. Identifying the baseline involves selecting a typical behavior that will be used as your reference point to evaluate the achievement with behavior modification. Therefore the baseline behavior for this report is continued smoking among students during three breaks timetabled in high school x within which the students involved smoking a total of six cigarettes a day at school in addition, the peers are always together during break times. In order to establish our baseline data was collected for over two months on daily bases using observers stationed within an earshot from the targets exhibiting the behavior for teenagers and concealed not to interfere with the natural environment of the target. Hidden cameras played an important role in gathering the baseline data. The intervention program employed step by step scientific strategies [Ray11] to address this behavior involved key players and among them are parents, teachers, shop-keepers, subordinate staff and the researcher because they are important to the target groups. For instance vendors will be economically affected for loosing major consumers of their products. The main aim for the project was to gradually alleviate the habit by first reducing the number of cigars per day until it stops completely. In addition the students were informed of the dangers of smoking as well the challenges associated with stopping this addictive behavior namely withdrawal syndrome as coughing[JAB28]. The students were also enlightened about the effects of peers influence. Thus the design adopted for the report was meant to minimize the habit and eventually eliminate the same and it revolves around reinforcement and punishment in classical and operant conditioning. However, this case employed a blend of the two and resulted to covert conditioning and thought pairing [Don97] in [Don97]where the students were exposed to aversive images associated with smoking that were quite embarrassing. Students were then asked to place themselves in similar situations through imagination in assistance of the guidance and counseling department members. According to [Don97] the aversive images and scenes involve training the to associate smoking with nausea and every time the student thinks of smoking the feeling inhibits him because he would not want to cause anything that would lead to embarrassment. The implementation of the program above begun with the researcher training key players on the procedures that involved counseling students on the effects of smoking followed by covert conditioning where embarrassing scenes and images associated with smoking are shown to the student who are then advised to simulate the same in their imagination for 10 times in each day[Don97]. The students were also guided through the unpleasant scenes by counseling experts to help them visualize the scenes as well as being assigned homework that will create discomfort and assist them to associate the unpleasant scenes to smoking thus reducing or even stopping the habit. There was repeated trials with covert conditioning and though pairing [Don97]and students were seen to reduce the number of cigarettes taken per day from six to one and eventually the habit stopped[Don97]. They also stopped assembling around restrooms because it was associated with smoking which was in turn associated with unpleasant scenes. However, there were challenges encountered in the process these included resistance by some peer members to attend the session, reluctant key players for instance some vendors remained non-committal, data collection methods were quite expensive for instance the installation of hidden cameras used to collect baseline data consistency and it was difficult to tell whether some students carried out the exercises most of which were covert. The y-values in this graph show the smoking trends among the target group before the intervention program while the x-axis indicate time. We therefore concluded that the habit was constant as along as there was no intervention this formed our baseline for the project. The data collected aimed at shedding more light to the existence of teenage smoking and to prove that is has to be addressed urgently. The y-value for this graph shows the smoking trend during the intervention process. The graph reveals that the design adopted for this program was quite successful in reducing the habit. In any case the target group responded positively to the anticipated trend. As time progressed we find that the habit declines and this was the expected outcome despite the fact that there were several challenges. Therefore future application of this strategy will be successful however, there still room for improvement and modification so that the strategy becomes more effective and efficient. Conclusion The discussion presented above concerning behavior modification targeted teenage smoking and was conducted in high school. It reveals that students engage in the practice at tender ages and this was attributed to external influences to the youths. For instance teenagers identify with role models therefore they tend to copy what they see from people they regard highly in the family setting or in the society. Peer pressure was also seen to promote the behavior alongside the media services. The study revealed that smoking caused health complication to smokers such as lung cancer and emphysema thus affecting their lifespan. The study employed theories advanced by experts in the field of psychology to develop the design including covert conditioning. This theory was vital in reducing the habit by discouraging students from continuing with the habit by presenting negative motivating factors/aversive images with embarrassing scenes associated with smoking. The implementation of the design was successful in reducing the habit because 90% of the targeted group. However, there were challenges encountered during the project emanating from target, key players and instruments purchasing however they were addressed and the whole program was a success. References Ray11: , (Miltenberger), Ray11: , (Behavior Modification: Principles and Procedures), Dua07: , (Duane P. Schultz), Dua07: , (A History of Modern Psychology), Ray11: , (Miltenberger 2011), JAB28: , (Bian. 1928), Don97: , (Meichenbaum), Don97: , (Cognitive-Behavior Modification: An Integrative Approach), Don97: , (Meichenbaum 1997), Don97: , (Meichenbaum 1997), Don97: , (Cognitive-Behavior Modification: An Integrative Approach), Read More