Community Service Worker

The Psychology Behind Behaviour Modification Explained for Those with Community Service Worker Training

February 19, 2021

Community Service Workers have an important role in creating change in the lives of individuals and families in need of help. While their duties can vary, Community Service Workers (CSWs) generally equip their clients with resources to remove themselves from harmful or negative situations. CSWs also provide clients with the emotional support necessary to make lifestyle changes and move away from detrimental coping mechanisms or patterns of behaviour. The communities and clients they work with may differ, but CSWs often work with those suffering from addiction, mental or physical disabilities, abuse, situations of poverty, or other forms of instability. 

Behaviour modification is a form of treatment which focuses on altering an individual’s patterns of behaviour or reactions to create positive change. Familiarity with behaviour modification techniques can be helpful to Community Service Workers looking to implement various types of solutions for the communities, families and individuals that they work with. 

Here’s the basic science behind behaviour modification explained to those taking CSW training.

Behaviour Modification Explained for those in Community Service Worker College

Behaviour modification is a form of treatment encompassing a set of techniques which help individuals to change their patterns of behaviour or reactions–with the goal of replacing damaging behaviours with beneficial ones. Developed by renowned psychologist B.F. Skinner, this treatment approach is based on the notion that behaviour can be changed through mechanisms of reinforcement and consequence. Professionals with Community Service Worker training can learn to apply different techniques of behaviour modification when equipped with an understanding of the psychology behind this approach.

Behaviour modification enables CSWs to help their clients create positive change

Behaviour modification is driven by the concept of conditioning. Classical conditioning refers to a signal which precipitates behaviour. For example, the sound of a notification on one’s phone will typically correspond to the action of checking to see who it’s from. On the other hand, operant conditioning is conditioning which shapes behaviour using a reward/punishment approach. Rewarding a child after they put their toys away or punishing them when they behave badly are both forms of operant conditioning–as a child is taught what forms of behaviour are acceptable and which are not. 

Why is Behaviour Modification Important for Community Service Work?

Behaviour modification is based on the notion that because behaviours can be learned, they can also be unlearned. The ability to “unlearn” behaviours is relevant to the work of CSWs–as these professionals often work with individuals stuck in harmful or negative patterns of behaviour. The clients of Community Service Workers may be experiencing mental health problems, addiction or substance use issues, relationship issues, or negative thought patterns as a result of traumatic experiences and situations. 

Behavioural modification can teach clients to unlearn negative behaviours

Replacing negative behaviours with positive ones can empower those in situations of crisis or helplessness to work to change their circumstances and to be more receptive to aid and counseling. On the job, graduates of Community Service Worker college will learn to recognize when an individual’s situation could be improved through a behaviour modification treatment approach. Keep in mind that CSWs will often work to implement these techniques with the support of a wider mental health care team working with the affected client. Here are some ways that behaviour modification can be implemented.

Techniques for Implementing Behaviour Modification after Your Community Service Worker Training

There are a variety of different techniques which CSW professionals can employ to help their clients create changes in their behaviour. The following behaviour modification techniques are likely to be the most relevant to the field of community service work. For clients suffering from trauma or anxiety, systematic desensitization can be a helpful behavioural modification tool. This approach uses a classical conditioning approach to teach clients techniques to remain calm in the face of their fears. 

Another approach is chaining, which is helpful for individuals who could benefit from learned behavioural change in order to work towards a goal or accomplishment. Behaviour chains are sequences of behaviours in which multiple behaviours are put together to form a greater behaviour. Chaining teaches individuals to recognize reinforcement mechanisms after completing a sequence in the behaviour chaining. Gradually, chaining gives individuals the skills necessary to accomplish something independently, and can be useful for helping clients to develop an approach to a complicated situation.

If you’re thinking of becoming a Community Service Worker, behavioural modification can be a powerful tool to implement solutions for clients in difficult situations. While these are just some of the techniques involved in behavioural modification, there are a variety of approaches that you can apply as a CSW. With the support of a wider mental health team that may be also involved in an individual’s care, you will be able to help clients create positive changes in their habits, reactions and actions. 

Are you ready to enroll in a Community Service Worker course?

Launch your career with a program at Medix College today!

Visit Our Blog Directory