Psychologist B.F. Skinner, the formulator of behavior modification theory, was attempting to prove that the same principles that govern the behavior of amoeba, planaria, rats, dogs and monkeys also ...

As many readers know, my doctoral research area was focused on health behavior change. Specifically, I was interested in finding ways to inspire groups of people to become physically active. One of ...

Operant conditioning is a theory that explains how behaviors are influenced by their consequences or results. It’s often used today to help people adopt new behaviors or change old habits. If you’ve ...

Logan T. Cowan, Sarah A. Van Wagenen, Brittany A. Brown, Riley J. Hedin, Yukiko Seino-Stephan, P. Cougar Hall, Joshua H. West Health Education & Behavior, Vol. 40, No ...

The questions parents most frequently ask begin: "What should I do when my child" and close with a description of a vexing behavior – as in: "What should I do when my child bites the family dog?" This ...

Building on a post that looked at times in which media influenced real-world behaviors, we will reflect below on why this can happen through a constellation of theories. 1. Social Learning Theory.

Walk through a grocery store with a child, and you will see it instantly. Candy bars line the checkout aisle, placed exactly at eye level. That placement is not random; it is deliberate stimulus ...