September 7, 2014

September 7, 2014

Written by Maximus Peperkamp, M.S. Verbal Behaviorist

Dear Reader, 

 

For years this author, like everyone else, believed he was causing his behavior and that others were causing their behavior, but due to his study of behaviorism and behaviorology this belief has dissolved. Of course, this doesn’t mean he has been instantly reconditioned. In the process that began to unfold over the last two years, he notices the impact that the functional account is beginning to have.

It is not the behavior, which he exhibits, but the behavior, which he no longer exhibits, not what he does, but what he doesn’t do, which now repeatedly catches his attention. In his current life, he is doing much less of the things he used to do or he is not doing them at all. Also, he is aware that his self-talk, due to his study of behaviorology, has changed. Microstructural changes of the body occur due to conditioning and he has altered physiological responses.

This writer used to have reactive behaviors, which often shut down his ability to function as a thinking human being and caused him  trouble. These impairing responses have become much less since he found full-time employment as a case manager with parolees. This new environment requires more control and, surprisingly, he has gained more control. It is not he who gained control, but environmental variables that are producing these changes in his behavior. Although old behaviors are sometimes still there, his job demands he stays in contact with his environment. Whenever there is a slight loss of control, he is alerted to it, but not in an alarming, overwhelming manner. This is very much due to his supervisor, who fully supports him and constantly provides reinforcing feedback about his work.