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The article presents a logical view of how self-control procedures are used in counseling. Goldiamond (1965) explained how self-control is used to identify behaviors that are lacking or inadequate in humans. Self-control is used to create an environment that may produce the appropriate behavior. Self-control procedures, such as counseling sessions are applied to solve behavioral problems. To solve the distinct behavioral problem, understanding the larger context of the problem is often important. Without understanding the larger context of deficit, changing the particular deficit may not be a long-term solution for the problem. For behaviors to be labeled as deficits, a critical analysis should be done to ensure that the perils of untimely assumptions are not made.

The author added that the procedures of establishing self-control revolve around the fact that behavior is described by the practical relationship between the individual possessing the behavior and the environment surrounding the behavior (Goldiamond, 1965). The environment is the control mechanism of the behavior. Self-control sets up procedures and programs that will change the environment and the behavior. Self-control also uses the approach of allowing people to train themselves on the functional analysis of behavior and determine the procedures that they should apply to address the problem deficit. The use of self-control gives individuals a chance to self-actualize and self-improve.

Goldiamond (1965) maintained that self-control procedures aim to alter the specified behavioral deficit by using the simplest behaviors. Self-control procedures can be applied to change a deficit behavior by altering the stimuli, which are conditions under which the behavior occurs. For change to be effective, therapists must identify if the present behavioral problem exists because a preliminary behavior was not obtained (Goldiamond, 1965). If that is the case then, a procedure that is meant to address the current problem must consider addressing the earlier problem.

The works of Goldiamond are of importance in the field and profession of behavior analysis and the analysis of clinical behaviors. The aim of the article was to revive Goldiamond’s constructional approach to the analysis of clinical behaviors and the analysis of behavior wholly. Layng (2009) describes the Goldiamonds approach on how conventional, fundamental, and applied analysis can cut across to dispense solutions of behavior analyses that stress weighty selection. The article also explains the factors that led to a scientific discovery that endeavors to explain the shift in events that made the history of behavior analyses.

According to Layng (2009), the analysis of behavior and clinical behavior analysis is based on how humans respond to stimuli. This means the more a subject is exposed to a specific stimulus, the more their perception of the stimulus improves. The focus is on understanding the relationship between behavior changes and changes in stimuli. Emotions, the state of mind, and motivation which are influenced by various changes, such as needs are used to determine the perception of stimuli. Layng explains how Goldiamond’s observation that many of the differences in perception of stimuli occurred due to overlooking the consequences of the responses given.

The author added that perception analysis provides a base for an understanding of behavior analysis and behavior that is of clinical importance. Behaviors of clinical importance are determined through the methods of self-control, psycho-physical research, behavioral approach to moral behavior, and the functional analysis of speech content in therapy sessions as well as how behavioral interactions in a therapy session can influence change outside the session (Layng, 2009). From the study, it can be concluded that relevant behaviors adapt to the function of consequential choices in a clinical analysis of behavior.

Reference

Goldiamond, I. (1965). Self-control procedures in personal behavior problems. Psychological Reports, 17(3), 851-868. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1965.17.3.851

Layng, T. J. (2009). The search for an effective clinical behavior analysis: The nonlinear thinking of Israel Goldiamond. The Behavior Analyst, 32(1), 163-184. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392181