19 - Behavior Change Methods

Abstract

Behavior can be changed to improve the safety and health of workers in business and industry. The factors like lack of skill, lack of motivation, or a combination of these two must be considered while developing a behavior change program for an employee. If someone is engaging in an undesirable behavior, then such behavior is reinforced and the reinforcement for the desired behavior is absent or weak in comparison to reinforcement for other behavior. Social reinforcement is the behavior of one person who reinforces another person; the best-known example is praise or recognition. Performance feedback occurs when specific information about performance is provided to the performer. Behavior could also be changed with token reinforcements and punishments. Strong punishment can lessen unwanted behavior for very long periods of time, perhaps indefinitely. Education and training help in behavior modification. Most of the “training” that occurs in business and industry actually presents information. Corrective feedback can also be used as an alternative to punishment. Places of work appear to have a large variety of reinforcers that can be used to strengthen desired behaviors. Although typical business practice involves presenting these to workers independently of useful behaviors, they can be incorporated into productive programs in straightforward and effective ways.