BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION

by David Nuttle

In the U. S. and other nations respecting basic human rights, persons in serious need of behavior modification, for their own welfare, may need behavior modification. The typical or standard techniques employed are:

1) Discussions of expectations and actual performance.

2) Rewards for positive behaviors.

3) Programmed self-monitoring.

4) Use of structured routines.

5) Positive reinforcements.

6) Consistent requirements.

7) Coordinated change efforts by parents, teachers, coaches, & clinicians.

Behavior modification under dictatorships and communist governments takes the form of coercive persuasion generally utilizing the following means:

a) Psychological & environmental manipulation.

b) Dependency and control of communications.

c) Emotional chaos.

d) Exploitation of vulnerabilities.

e) Erosion of critical thinking.

f) Blocking all self-determination and free will.

Coercive persuasion for POWs and other prisoners becomes more extreme and typically adds extreme torture, causing and exploiting injuries, exposure to disease(s), causing all forms of suffering, sustained interrogation, and forced self-criticism before peers.

With the advent of social media, radicals seek behavior modification using name calling, "mudslinging," false claims, and "big lies." and alteration of beliefs. Extreme claims are used to create a following. The "big lie" technique was proven effective by Hitler who believed a lie told frequency and conviction will soon be accepted as truth.

Social media seems to be creating problems that will not be easily solved while protecting free speech. Walking into a crowded movie theatre and shouting fire, when there is no fire, is not free speech. By the same token, use of sustained patterns of "big lies" and hate speech, to motivate a "lone wolf" to engage in a horrific political assassination, is also not free speech!!