Six Historical Models for Causes of Behavior

Model	Theory	Diagnosis	Goals of Intervention	Intervention Techniques	Key Terms	Notable Names
Behavioral	Behavior, thoughts, feelings, and emotions are learned according to principles of reinforcement and punishment. A behaviorist will not consider what a person is thinking as it was said to be unknown. Stimulus response - the focus on external factors affecting behavior. If the stimulus is changed, the behavior will likewise be changed.	Problem identification Identify target behavior Identify antecedents & consequences Identify new behaviors Gather baseline data Identify reinforcers	Decrease undesirable behavior and reshape with acceptable behavior.	Positive and negative reinforcement Group contingencies Self-control intervention Contingency contracting Reinforcement schedules Graph baseline and treatment schedules Punishment Use relaxation techniques Shaping	Positive and negative reinforcement Punishment Modeling Shaping Ignoring Time out Overcorrection Isolation Token economy Irrational thoughts	Elias Clabby Ellis O’leary Pavlov Premack Shure Skinner Watson Bandura
Cognitive	Behavior, thoughts, feelings, and emotions are learned according to principles of reinforcement and punishment. A cognitivist will consider what a person thinks as a clue to reinforcement	Problem identification Identify target behavior Identify antecedents & consequences Identify new behaviors Gather baseline data Identify self-dialogue Identify reinforcements	Decrease undesirable behavior Decrease dysfunctional thinking Replace targeted undesirable behaviors with acceptable behaviors	Reinforcement Group contingencies Self-control intervention Contingency contracting Reinforcement schedules Graph baseline and treatment schedules Avoid punishment Use relaxation techniques	Reinforcement DRO, DRI, DRA Punishment Modeling Shaping Ignoring Time out Overcorrection Isolation Token economy Irrational thoughts	Elias Clabby Ellis O’leary Pavlov Premack Shure Watson Bandura
Psychodynamic Interpersonal	Behavior and personality are a function of internal, inherent drives and motivations in interaction with significant others, developmental stages, and individual life experiences.	Research background information through parents and previous teachers. Access student health records for certain learning disorders that may affect the classroom.	Help student figure out why or what is causing their behavior and how to change. Help other staff members understand the causes.	Psychotherapy (play, self, family, individual, peer, group, bibliotherapy) Self-esteem activities Psychodrama Counseling (teacher, peer) Staff changes Choice theory Reality theory	Psychosexual stages (id, ego, superego) Unconscious Psychosocial stages Counseling Life space interview Defense mechanisms, projection, repression, displacement, regression, sublimation,	Adler Albert Berne Dreikurs Erickson Freud Ginott Piaget
Humanistic	Behavior is a result of seeking to fulfill basic and advanced needs in a person's life. Since needs range across Maslow's hierarchy (physiological, security, social, self-esteem, and self-actualization), with the lower level needs tending to be of primary concern before higher level. However, human capacity for empathy and goodness and strivings for competence will push us toward self-actualization.	Determine unmet needs Determine demands for conformity Determine factors that diminish worth Identify punitive nondemocratic practices	Meeting with the student to help him or her realize and meet his or her own needs. Provide for realization of student’s strivings Organize for creativity, individuality, & curiosity Provide prosocial models Provide moral education Provide for individuals to meet their own needs	Open education Participatory democracy Empowerment Alternative schools Role-play to dramatize needs and desires Rap sessions Cooperation vs. competition Social activities.	Self-actualization Self-sufficiency Individual rights Alienation Cooperation Democratic	Allport Goodman Herdon Holt Maslow Rogers Rosseau Bandura
Biophysical	Behavior is greatly influenced by body and brain structure: neurological connections, body chemistry, genetics, nutrition, physical fitness, health, and lifestyle choices. Balance between body and mind.	Gather information on health status and health history Observe affect of energy, & appearance Obtain eating and sleeping patterns Review medication history Engage family physician Refer for evaluation MRI, fMRI, and other medical data	Maintain optimum health state for each student Provide appropriate medical, nutritional, educational. physical, & psychological interventions Balance is sometimes a trade off between one thing and another	Medication Rehabilitation Glasses, hearing aids, prosthetic devices... Biofeedback Hypnosis Therapy: gene, allergy radiation, vitamin, speech, physical, nutrition, stress	Brain damage PKU Cerebral Palsy Diabetes Asthma Autism Temperament Attention deficit disorder (ADD) Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)	Bender Chess Cruickshank Delacato Fernald Frostig Kephart
Environmental or Ecological Systems	Personality & behavior are a function of the interaction of all ecological and interpersonal forces that impact on individuals. People’s behavioral patterns are influenced by the environment surrounding them which includes the people, the psychological climate, and the physical environment.	Identify consistency of behavior in a system: student norms, self-fulfilling prophecies, class ecology (physical and climate), and teacher behavior and style.	Restructure classroom, school, home, or community physical, social, and emotional environment. Change community attitudes Influence legislature to make new laws Provide positive climate Learning conflict resolution, coping skills, and problem solving is of great assistance in balancing the needs of the person with the environment.	Needs assessment Task forces Empowerment from top Data-based decisions Model building theory Conflict resolution Social skills Class meetings Residential programs, Halfway houses, community living Appropriate instructional strategies Architectural changes	Class & school climate Classroom management Organize settings (temporal, spatial, interpersonal) Birth order Family system theory Learning styles (teacher & student) Communication systems Social Classes (town, city, demographic information) Social Economic Status (SES)	Curwin & Mendler Duke Glasser Gump Jones Kounin Lewin Redl Barker Canter