The document discusses self-management strategies for changing one's own behavior. It defines self-management and explains that it involves using behavior modification techniques to control a target behavior. The document outlines several self-management strategies including goal setting, self-monitoring, antecedent manipulation, behavioral contracting, consequences, social support, and self-instructions. It provides details on how to develop a self-management plan, selecting the appropriate strategy, evaluating progress, and maintaining behavior change over time.

1. Self-Management
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2. Goals
I. Defining self-management
II. Defining self-management
problems
III. Self-management
strategies
IV.Devising a self-management
plan
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3. I. Defining Self-Management
Self-management: using behavior
modification procedures to change
one’s own behavior.
Why “self-management” and not “self-control”
or “will power”?
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4. I. Defining Self-Management
“Behave today, to manage behavior
tomorrow.”
“Take action now, to prevent problems later.”
“A little effort now, for a larger gain later.”
All these statements are suggestive of self-management.
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5. I. Defining Self-Management
Self-management involves a controlling
behavior and a controlled behavior
Controlling behavior what the person does now.
Managing antecedents and consequences.
Controlled behavior refers to the behavior the
person wants to manage in the future.
Learning new behaviors.
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6. II. Defining Self-Management
Problems
Behavioral deficits refers to the failure to
perform the desirable behavior.
Generally, the undesirable outcome is delayed.
The more immediate reinforcement is, typically,
smaller than the delayed reinforcement.
Typical of behaviors considered “impulsive.”
Self-management goal: Increase the
behavioral level so it is no longer a deficit.
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7. II. Defining Self-Management
Problems
Behavioral excess refers to the consistent
performance of the undesirable behavior.
Generally, the undesirable outcome is delayed,
albeit uncertain, negative impact.
The more immediate punisher is, typically, smaller
than the delayed ill effects.
Typically involves more immediate reinforcement
(immediate “gratification”; impulsivity)
Typical of behaviors considered “unhealthy.”
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8. III. Self-Management
Strategies
Basically, self-management involves
the individual:
identifying and defining the target
behavior.
using behavior modification procedure(s)
to develop alternative behavior(s).
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9. III. Self-Management
Strategies
Seven steps are involved:
1. Goal setting.
2. Self-monitoring.
3. Antecedent manipulations.
4. Behavioral contracting.
5. Using consequences (reinforcers & punishers).
6. Social support.
7. Self-instructions and self-praise.
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10. III. Self-Management
Strategies
1.Goal setting.
Writing down
the target behavior
criterion level
time frame.
May produce reactivity effects.
Take advantage of reactivity effects.
Goal setting typically ineffective by itself.
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11. III. Self-Management
Strategies
• Set goals that are:
achievable.
especially true early in change program.
Goal achievement=conditioned reinforcer.
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12. III. Self-Management
Strategies
2. Self-monitoring.
Observing one’s own behavior.
Often combined with goal setting.
Produces reactivity effects.
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13. III. Self-Management
Strategies
3. Antecedent manipulations.
Involved in all self-management
interventions.
Six strategies.
Three strategies for increasing desirable
behavior:
Presenting SD.
Arranging EOs.
Decreasing response effort.
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14. III. Self-Management
Strategies
Three strategies for decreasing
undesirable behavior:
Removing SD.
Removing EOs.
Increasing response effort.
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15. III. Self-Management
Strategies
4. Behavioral contracting.
A written document that:
specifies the target behavior
arranges contingent consequences
in a specified time period.
Self-management enters the picture when:
the controlling behavior (writing the contract) attempts
to manage the controlled behavior (target behavior).
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16. III. Self-Management
Strategies
A contract can be written and implemented by:
oneself, or
a contract manager.
Reinforce the manager’s behavior!
• Danger!
Short-circuiting the contract.
Either cheating on the reinforcers, or
avoiding the punishers.
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17. III. Self-Management
Strategies
5. Using consequences (reinforcers &
punishers).
Contingency management sans the contract.
Positive/negative reinforcement.
Positive/negative punishment.
Advantage: no other person is required.
Disadvantage: Short-circuiting.
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18. III. Self-Management
Strategies
• Short-circuiting solution:
Have another person implement the
consequences.
Reinforce the other person’s behavior.
Difficulties:
Others may be unwilling.
Conflicts can arise.
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19. III. Self-Management
Strategies
6. Social support.
Occurs when significant others provide:
the context (SDs) for the behavior;
the consequences for the behavior.
Useful in preventing short-circuiting.
Include, as much as possible, in self-management
interventions.
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20. III. Self-Management
Strategies
Self-management enters the picture
when:
The person arranges (controlling behavior) for
social support to impact the target behavior
(controlled behavior).
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21. III. Self-Management
Strategies
7. Self-instructions and self-praise.
Behavior can be influenced by specific
self-talk.
Self-instructions involve instructing/telling
oneself
what to do and
how to do it.
Self-praise involves positive evaluations of one’s desirable
performance.
Performance need not, initially, be perfect.
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22. III. Self-Management
Strategies
• To use self-instructions:
Identify the self-statements.
Identify the time and place when they are
to be used.
Rehearse/role-play their use in detail.
Use them after they are mastered.
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23. III. Self-Management
Strategies
• To use self-praise:
Identify the self-praise statements.
Identify the behavior and level of
performance.
Rehearse/role-play their use in detail.
Use them after they are mastered.
Avoid using negative statements.
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24. IV. Devising A Self-
Management Plan
1. Deciding to use self-management.
2. Defining the target and
competing behaviors.
3. Goal-setting.
4. Self-monitoring.
5. Functional
assessment.
6. Selecting the
appropriate strategy.
7. Evaluating the change.
8. Re-evaluating self-management
strategies.
9. Maintenance
strategies.
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25. IV. Devising A Self-
Management Plan
1. Deciding to use self-management.
Person is dissatisfied.
Wonders/imagines how behavior could be
different.
Becomes motivated to take action.
Anticipates positive outcomes.
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26. IV. Devising A Self-
Management Plan
2. Defining the target and competing
behaviors.
Define the target behavior(s), so
it can be recorded, so
an appropriate self-management strategy can
be used.
Define the competing behavior(s), so
a behavioral deficit can be increased, or
a behavioral excess can be decreased.
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27. IV. Devising A Self-
Management Plan
3.Goal-setting.
Determine the level of the target behavior.
Write it down.
Specify intermediate steps, if necessary.
Make it public (commitment to change).
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28. IV. Devising A Self-
Management Plan
4. Self-monitoring.
Develop and implement a self-monitoring plan.
Immediately record each occurrence of the target
behavior.
1-2 weeks to establish baseline.
Behavior must be stable prior to implementing self-management
plan.
Continue monitoring throughout intervention.
Permits evaluation of effectiveness.
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29. IV. Devising A Self-
Management Plan
5. Functional assessment.
Concurrent with self-monitoring,
conduct a FA.
Identify antecedents and consequences.
For both target and competing behaviors.
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30. IV. Devising A Self-
Management Plan
6. Selecting the appropriate strategy.
Selected based on FA.
Use/manipulate antecedent strategies that
compete with target behavior.
Presenting SD.
Arranging EOs.
Decreasing response effort.
Removing SD.
Removing EOs.
Increasing response effort.
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31. IV. Devising A Self-
Management Plan
Use/manipulate consequent strategies.
To decrease undesirable and increase
behavior:
eliminate reinforcers.
arrange punishers.
reinforce alternative behaviors.
eliminate punishment contingencies for
alternative behaviors.
Use BST procedures to teach alternative
behaviors.
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32. IV. Devising A Self-
Management Plan
To increase desirable and decrease
undesirable behavior:
arrange reinforcers.
eliminate punishers.
eliminate reinforcers for alternative behaviors.
arrange punishment contingencies for alternative
behaviors.
Use BST procedures to teach alternative
behaviors.
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33. IV. Devising A Self-
Management Plan
7. Evaluating the change.
Collect data throughout intervention.
Behavior changing in desired direction:
Continue with program.
Behavior not changing in desired
direction: Re-evaluate program.
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34. IV. Devising A Self-
Management Plan
8. Re-evaluating self-management
strategies.
Two types of problems.
1. Procedures are not implemented correctly.
Beyond person’s skill level, use different
procedures.
2. Inappropriate self-management strategy.
Procedures are implemented correctly.
Examine FA for what you should do.
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35. IV. Devising A Self-
Management Plan
9. Maintenance strategies.
Goal is being achieved.
Ideally, the natural contingencies will take
over.
In the meantime:
Continue goal-setting.
Self-monitoring.
Particularly important as it provides the requisite
feedback.
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