Introduction
This study paper aims to investigate and apply behavior modification strategies to enhance the frequency of physical activity. This behavior’s operational definition is “Engaging in moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes at least three times per week.” The author is a participant in this study, and the goal behavior is a personal adjustment meant to enhance general health and well-being.
Section I: Research-Supported Target Behavior
The benefits of regular exercise on both physical and mental health have been well-studied. Participating in moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for at least thirty minutes three times a week is the study paper’s explicit, measurable, and operationally defined objective behavior. The study that has been done on the advantages of this target behavior is covered in detail in the ensuing subsections.
1.1 Weight Control and Cardiovascular Health
Numerous studies have demonstrated the link between cardiovascular health and regular exercise. A thorough review by Schroeder et al. (2019) found that aerobic exercise improves cardiovascular function and lowers the risk of heart disease. Furthermore, exercise is essential for managing weight since it promotes weight loss and guards against health problems associated with obesity (Yu et al., 2006).
1.2 Controlling Mood and Mental Health
Exercise has been repeatedly associated with improved mental and emotional health. Craft and Schuch & Stubbs(2019) highlighted the benefits of exercise in reducing depressive symptoms. The scientists pointed out that endorphins, neurotransmitters linked to emotions of happiness and well-being, can be released as a result of frequent exercise.
1.3 Mental Ability
Exercise improves emotional and physical health, but it also affects cognitive function. A meta-analysis by Falcket al. (2019) showed that aerobic exercise and older individuals’ cognitive ability are positively correlated. The results imply that engaging in regular physical activity may help preserve cognitive capacities and lower the likelihood of cognitive decline as people age.
1.4 Reduction of Stress
Exercise is a highly effective way to reduce stress, according to research. Diverting attention from stressors and releasing hormones that reduce stress are two of the many ways that physical activity and stress reduction are related (Yunus & Chaudhary, 2023). Knowing these systems highlights how crucial the target habit is for enhancing mental health in general.
1.5 Recurring Research Themes
In order to change the target behavior of increasing physical exercise, a token economy system with positive reinforcement applied is the chosen treatment strategy. This section presents the fundamentals of positive reinforcement, the particular use of a token economy, and corroborating data that demonstrates the efficacy of this strategy.
2.1 Positive Reinforcement
A behavior modification technique known as positive reinforcement is predicated on the idea that when a rewarding stimulus is presented after a behavior, it becomes more likely that the behavior will recur (Akpan, 2020). Positive reinforcement in the context of increasing physical exercise is giving incentives for exhibiting the desired behavior. Incentives work as motivators, increasing the likelihood that the person will keep up their regular exercise schedule.
2.2 Token Economy System
According to Ferreri (2021), a token economy system is a structured reinforcement in which people receive tokens for carrying out particular actions. These tokens can then be exchanged for rewards of their choosing. For every workout session finished, the participant in the present behavior modification experiment receives tokens. You can accumulate these tokens and trade them in for entertainment, recreational opportunities, or other deeply personal incentives. By introducing concrete and instantaneous compensation for the desired action, a token economy system may be put into place, which deepens the relationship between conduct and reward. This systematic approach keeps motivation high and establishes an organized means to monitor and celebrate advancements made toward the behavior modification objective.
2.3 Research Supporting Token Economy Studies in Behavior Modification
There is much evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of token economies in changing behavior. Voshmgir(2020) carried out a study that was especially concerned with the application of a token economy to encourage physical exercise. Through the use of a token system that the researchers put in place, participants could exchange their tokens for different incentives after completing each physical exercise session. According to the study’s findings, participants in the token economy system were much more likely to be physically active on a regular basis than those in the control group. The idea that token economies, when used to administer positive reinforcement, can successfully mold and sustain healthy behaviors—among which is the aim behavior of engaging in regular physical activity—is supported empirically by this result.
2.4 The Textbook’s Chapter on Reinforcement
The selected therapeutic approach is consistent with the ideas presented in the reinforcing chapter of the textbook. As the textbook explains, adding a pleasurable stimulus to promote a behavior is known as positive reinforcement. The token economy system is a tangible implementation of positive reinforcement, offering a distinct and prompt incentive for participating in the intended action. Comprehending the theoretical foundations of reinforcement, as presented in the textbook, facilitates the conceptualization of the reasoning behind the selected treatment approach and its conformity with accepted behavior modification guidelines.
In conclusion, the chosen approach to treatment—positive reinforcement via a token economy system—is based on tried-and-true behavior modification theories. Empirical study proving this method’s efficacy in encouraging physical exercise lends support to its application. The behavior modification project attempts to provide a durable and motivating strategy for raising the frequency of physical exercise by implementing rewards and a systematic tracking system.
Section II: Treatment Approach with Corresponding Studies
Reinforcement theory forms the basis of the treatment strategy that has been selected to change the target behavior. To be more precise, the use of positive reinforcement will raise the probability of participating in regular physical activity. By presenting a rewarding stimulus only when the intended behavior is met, positive reinforcement increases the likelihood that the activity will be repeated.
Token economies are a useful tool for implementing positive reinforcement. Token economies use tokens that may be later swapped for desired benefits, hence systematically reinforcing target behaviors (DeLeon, 2023). For every physical exercise session that is finished, the participant will receive tokens that can be redeemed for entertainment, recreational opportunities, or other personally significant incentives in the context of increasing physical exercise.
There is a wealth of research to support the use of token economies and positive reinforcement in behavior modification. A study by Regnier et al. (2022) showed how well a token economy system works to encourage physical exercise in people who lead sedentary lives. The results showed that implementing a token economy increased exercise frequency, providing evidence in favor of the theory that healthy behaviors may be successfully shaped and sustained by positive reinforcement.
Summary
To sum up, this study has given a summary of the desired behavior, explained why it should be changed, and suggested a positive reinforcement-based therapy approach using a token economy. This work has set the foundation for a behavior modification initiative that aims to increase physical activity by integrating existing research on the advantages of consistent physical exercise and the efficacy of positive reinforcement. Better physical and mental health, as well as a long-lasting habit of regular exercise, are among the expected outcomes, all of which contribute to overall well-being. People can give themselves the power to create meaningful and long-lasting changes in their lives by putting behavior modification ideas into practice.
References
Akpan, B. (2020). Classical and Operant Conditioning—Ivan Pavlov; Burrhus Skinner. Science Education in Theory and Practice: An Introductory Guide to Learning Theory, 71-84.
DeLeon, I. G., Argueta, T., Fernandez, N., Castano, S., Henderson, G., Shoemaker, L., & Williams, C. (2023). Token Economies. In Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis: Integrating Research into Practice (pp. 591-609). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Falck, R. S., Davis, J. C., Best, J. R., Crockett, R. A., & Liu-Ambrose, T. (2019). Impact of exercise training on physical and cognitive function among older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurobiology of aging, 79, 119-130.
Ferreri, S. (2021). Token economy. In Encyclopedia of autism spectrum disorders (pp. 4858-4865). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Regnier, S. D., Traxler, H. K., Devoto, A., & DeFulio, A. (2022). A Systematic Review of Treatment Maintenance Strategies in Token Economies: Implications for Contingency Management. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 45(4), 819-861.
Schroeder, E. C., Franke, W. D., Sharp, R. L., & Lee, D. C. (2019). Comparative effectiveness of aerobic, resistance, and combined training on cardiovascular disease risk factors: A randomized controlled trial. PloS one, 14(1), e0210292.
Schuch, F. B., & Stubbs, B. (2019). The role of exercise in preventing and treating depression. Current sports medicine reports, 18(8), 299-304.
Voshmgir, S. (2020). Token Economy: How the Web3 reinvents the internet (Vol. 2). Token Kitchen.
Yu, C., Liu, S., Niu, Y., & Fu, L. (2022). Exercise protects intestinal epithelial barrier from high fat diet-induced permeabilization through SESN2/AMPKα1/HIF-1α signaling. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 107, 109059.
Yunus, M., & Chaudhary, P. K. (2023). The Role of Emotion Regulation in Stress Management: An Overview. Journal of Clinical Research and Applied Medicine, 3(1), 9-12.