Behavioral engineering, also called
applied behavior analysis
Applied behavior analysis (ABA), also called behavioral engineering, is a psychological intervention that applies empirical approaches based upon the principles of respondent and operant conditioning to change behavior of social significance. ...
, is intended to identify issues associated with the interface of
technology
Technology is the application of knowledge to reach practical goals in a specifiable and reproducible way. The word ''technology'' may also mean the product of such an endeavor. The use of technology is widely prevalent in medicine, science, ...
and the human operators in a system and to generate recommended design practices that consider the strengths and limitations of the human operators.
Watson wrote in 1924 "Behaviorism ... holds that the subject matter of human psychology is the behavior of the human being. Behaviorism claims that consciousness is neither a definite nor a usable concept."
This approach is often used in organizational behavior management, which is
behavior analysis
Behaviorism is a systematic approach to understanding the behavior of humans and animals. It assumes that behavior is either a reflex evoked by the pairing of certain antecedent stimuli in the environment, or a consequence of that individual' ...
applied to organizations and behavioral community psychology.
Success of approach
Behavioral engineering has been used to increase safety in organizations (see
Behavior-based safety
Behavior-based safety (BBS) is the "application of science of behavior change to real world safety problems". or "A process that creates a safety partnership between management and employees that continually focuses people's attentions and actions ...
). Other areas include performance in organization and lessening problems in prison. In addition, it has had some success in social service systems, understanding the long-term effects of humans in space and developing the human landscape, understanding political behavior in organizations, and understanding how organizations function.
It has also been successful in helping individuals to set goals and manage pay systems. Behavioral engineering has also been applied to social welfare policy.
In the school system behavioral engineering has inspired two programs of
behavior management
Behavior management, similar to behavior modification, is a less-intensive form of behavior therapy. Unlike behavior modification, which focuses on changing behavior, behavior management focuses on maintaining positive habits and behaviors and red ...
based on the principles of
applied behavior analysis
Applied behavior analysis (ABA), also called behavioral engineering, is a psychological intervention that applies empirical approaches based upon the principles of respondent and operant conditioning to change behavior of social significance. ...
in a
social learning format.
[Walker, H.M. & Buckley, N. (1972). Programming generalization and maintenance of treatment effects across time and setting. ''Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis'', 5, 209–224.][Walker, H.M. & Buckley, N. (1974). ''Token reinforcement techniques: Classroom applications for the hard to teach child''. Eugene, OR: E-B Press][Walker, H.M., Hops, H., & Greenwood, C. (1984). The CORBETH research and development model: Programmatic issues and strategies. In S. Paine, G.T. Bellamy, & B. Cilcox (Eds.), ''Human services that work'' (pp. 57–78). Baltimoire: Paul H. Brookes.] Programs were successful in reducing disruption in children with conduct disorders, as well as improving their academic achievement. The programs show good maintenance and generalization of treatment effects when the child was returned to the natural classroom. In addition, the programs were successfully replicated.
Behavior analytic programs continued to function to control truancy and reduce delinquency.
[Stumphauzer, J.S.(1985). School Programs: Staying in School and Learning to Learn. ''Child and Youth Services'', v8 n1–2 pp. 137–46]
The journal ''Behavioral Engineering'' was published from 1973–1985. Many of the topics of behavioral engineering are now covered in the journals ''Behavior and Social Issues,'' ''The Behavior Analyst'' and the ''Journal of Organizational Behavior Management.''
Related topics
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Applied behavior analysis
Applied behavior analysis (ABA), also called behavioral engineering, is a psychological intervention that applies empirical approaches based upon the principles of respondent and operant conditioning to change behavior of social significance. ...
*
Behaviour therapy
Behaviour therapy or behavioural psychotherapy is a broad term referring to clinical psychotherapy that uses techniques derived from behaviourism and/or cognitive psychology. It looks at specific, learned behaviours and how the environment, or o ...
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Behavior modification
Behavior modification is an early approach that used respondent and operant conditioning to change behavior. Based on methodological behaviorism, overt behavior was modified with consequences, including positive and negative reinforcement continge ...
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Behavior management
Behavior management, similar to behavior modification, is a less-intensive form of behavior therapy. Unlike behavior modification, which focuses on changing behavior, behavior management focuses on maintaining positive habits and behaviors and red ...
*
Professional practice of behavior analysis
The professional practice of behavior analysis is a domain of behavior analysis, the others being radical behaviorism, experimental analysis of behavior and applied behavior analysis. The practice of behavior analysis is the delivery of interven ...
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Behaviourism
Behaviorism is a systematic approach to understanding the behavior of humans and animals. It assumes that behavior is either a reflex evoked by the pairing of certain antecedent stimuli in the environment, or a consequence of that individual ...
References
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Behavioral concepts
Applied psychology
Behavior modification