| We have a tendency to look for the simplest solutions | | | | encourages the teenager to learn the rules of the |
| when we confront problems. Nowhere is this proclivity | | | | game and to act accordingly. He or she may alter |
| more pronounced than in the area of providing support | | | | outward behavior to comport with program |
| and assistance to troubled teenagers. We frequently | | | | expectations. Underneath those superficial alterations, |
| reach out to struggling teens with behavior modification | | | | however, nothing significant is happening. |
| programs, hoping for a quick behavioral fix. | | | | Even the most troubled kids can learn a game and |
| Unfortunately, that may not be the best solution. | | | | how to play it. When that short game (the program) |
| Behavior modifications operate from an attractively | | | | ends, however, they are likely to quickly revert to old |
| simple premise. If you construct a set of rules that | | | | habits and ways of thinking. That's because the the |
| allows for punishments and/or rewards based on the | | | | simple behavior modification approach often fails to |
| behavior of the participant, that person will adjust to | | | | address the significant root causes of inappropriate |
| maximize his or her level of comfort. In other words, | | | | behavior. There's no focus on the person, attention is |
| the participant will change his or her behavior in order | | | | only temporarily directed toward how that person is |
| to get more rewards and to avoid uncomfortable | | | | acting. |
| punishment. | | | | Struggling teens can get some benefit from behavior |
| This is the root thinking behind many troubled teen | | | | modification-based programs. However, the only way |
| bootcamps and other programs targeting at-risk youth. | | | | to truly encourage meaningful change is to break |
| The Pavlovian thinking at the base of these behavior | | | | away from simplistic outlooks and to pay attention to |
| modification programs hopes that simple retraining | | | | deeper core issues. |
| based on rewards and punishment will result in a | | | | It would be nice if there was a simple solution to "fixing" |
| transformative experience that will put the child on the | | | | troubled teenagers. Unfortunately, the most simple |
| "right track". | | | | perspectives don't accomplish their goals. It's important |
| These methods do inspire changes. However, they're | | | | to address both superficial behaviors and the human |
| usually less than genuine and they tend to lack staying | | | | being on a deeper level. |
| power. The artificial punishment/reward construct | | | | |