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behavior modification

the use of operant conditioning, biofeedback, modeling, aversion conditioning, reciprocal inhibition, or other learning techniques as a means of changing human behavior. For example, behavioral modification is used in clinical contexts to improve adaptation and alleviate symptoms and in organizational contexts to encourage employees to adopt safe work practices. The term is often used synonymously with behavior therapy.

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Psychology term of the day

January 18th 2025

hierarchical model of personality

hierarchical model of personality

a model of either within-person dynamics or individual differences in personality in which some psychological constructs are viewed as high-level variables that organize or govern the functioning of other lower level variables. For example, a hierarchical model of personality traits might view the construct sociability as being at a lower level in a hierarchy than the construct extraversion: Sociability would be seen as a form or example of the higher level trait of extraversion.