# Behavior Change Procedures

> Derived from "[Hierarchy of Procedures for Humane and
> Effective Practice][1]" by Susan G. Friedman et. al. which
> is meant to guide professionals in their decision-making
> process during training and behavior modification. It is
> based on [ethology][2], the scientific study of animal
> behavior, and uses terms from that field. Changing
> behavior of individuals and organizations is a critical
> job function of managers and executives. As such, much of
> the materials available in popular business and management
> literature is watered-down behavior science. There is more
> overlap than you might think between training dolphins and
> managing people.

These behavior change procedures are listed from the most
positive, least invasive to the least positive, most
invasive methods. Start with the least invasive procedure
possible before escalating. Level five should be avoided.
Level six should be treated as a last resort.

## Loose Translation for People in Organizations

1. Ensure physical and emotional security
2. Encourage behavior by setting up the environment, processes, and norms
3. Give encouraging feedback
4. Use critique and coaching
5. Shape behavior by removing rewards for an undesired behavior or reducing the consequences of a desired behavior
6. Discourage undesired behavior by doling out punishment

## ORIGINAL: Hierarchy of Procedures for Humane and Effective Practice

<figure class="illustration" markdown="0"> <figcaption
class="marginnote"> <em>Hierarchy of Behavior-Change
Procedures Most Positive, Least Intrusive Effective
Intervention</em> <a
href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode">CC-BY-NC-ND</a>
2015 Susan G. Friedman, Ph. D. </figcaption> <div
id="hierarchy-of-behavior-change" class="lightbox"> <a
href="/img/lima-hierarchy.png" data-turbo="false"> <img
src="/img/lima-hierarchy.png" alt="An illustration of six
levels of behaivor change depected as right turns off a
highway. There are speed bumps starting with the forth turn,
the fith turn has a yield sign, and the last turn has a stop
sign."> </a> </div> </figure>

1. _Health, nutritional, and physical factors:_ Ensure that any indicators for possible medical, nutritional, or health factors are addressed by a licensed veterinarian. The consultant should also address potential factors in the physical environment.
2. _Antecedents:_ Redesign setting events, change motivations, and add or remove discriminative stimuli (cues) for the problem behavior.
3. _Positive Reinforcement:_ Employ approaches that contingently deliver a consequence to increase the probability that the desired behavior will occur.
4. _Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior:_ Reinforce an acceptable replacement behavior and remove the maintaining reinforcer for the problem behavior.
5. _Negative Punishment, Negative Reinforcement, or Extinction (these are not listed in any order of preference):_
	1. _Negative Punishment:_ Contingently withdraw a positive reinforcer to reduce the probability that the problem behavior will occur.
	2. _Negative Reinforcement:_ Contingently withdraw an aversive antecedent stimulus to increase the probability that the right behavior will occur.
	3. _Extinction:_ Permanently remove the maintaining reinforcer to suppress the behavior or reduce it to baseline levels.
6. _Positive Punishment:_  Contingently deliver an aversive consequence to reduce the probability that the problem behavior will occur.

[1]: https://www.ccpdt.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hierarchy-of-Behavior-Change-Procedures.pdf
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethology