This is why the statement I quoted below is so completely laughable.
Behaviorism, in relation to humans, is a dead ideology. It doesn't work.
In complex organisms, like people, it is necessary to change thought patterns (cognitions) to make effective, LONG TERM behavior changes.
Sure, put a kid in a modified Skinner Box, i.e. RTC, BMW, WTP, etc., and you'll get a kid that quickly learns to behave "correctly" within the framework of that PARTICULAR environment.
Unfortunately, the "new" behaviors are specific to ONLY THAT ENVIRONMENT, and are quickly extinguished when the "subject" is removed from the environment in which the desired behaviors were reinforced.
The other problem with this type of program, is that they don't use "positive reinforcement," i.e. rewarding desired behaviors, but rather "negative reinforcement," i.e. the REMOVAL of an UNPLEASANT STIMULUS upon the completion of the desired behavior.
The staff literally terrorizes the child into submission and never lets up until the "undesirable" behavior is no longer exhibited.
The problem with negative reinforcement is twofold. One, it, like positive reinforcement, has only a short-term, environment-specific effect, and two, it works even less well than positive reinforcement, which, as shown by literally volumes of research, doesn't provide any significant change over time.
So, these BM techniques, simply put, foster behavior changes that are both environment specific and short-term.
So, anon poster, please do edify the rest of us how BM is "legitimate therapy." Am I just missing something, or are you privy to groundbreaking research that shows BM to be on par with or superior to cognitive therapy, or perhaps rational-emotive therapy?
Please educate us.