The method of behaviour-modification discussed in this article is a part of a bigger theory of what I call the "Orientations Theory of Behaviour" according to which a situation, or certain elements of it, cause the past memories to get arranged as a string or chain that influences the present behaviour. The elements of the string influence behaviour only to the extent that they carry an emotional charge. Because of this emotional charge, I call these strings "affective strings" or "affective chains". The elements of the affective string may carry a negative or positive charge depending upon whether the experience at that time, or in retrospect during later reviews, produced pleasant or unpleasant feelings. The present behaviour, therefore, receives a boost or a depression from the influence of the affective string that the present context generates. One way of dealing with the negative affective strings was discussed in my article in the following link:
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In the present article I want to talk of behaviour-modification in the context of the Orientations Theory. The ideas in this article, I hope, will be useful to those who want to employ such techniques during training. In a business firm or other contexts. The technique can yield very useful results
The string-modification has to be a conscious process by the subject and, therefore, his cooperation is essential. First, he should be given a clear feeling that it is not a treatment for ill mental health but a constructive effort to fully channelise his capabilities. Once he feels comfortable, the technique should be explained to him.
During string-modification, the subject sits down in a relaxed pose with eyes closed. Then he begins a self-assessment. How successful am I as an employee? How are my projects getting along? etc. While doing so, the subject must be gradually trained to identify the affective strings forming and causing pleasant or unpleasant feelings. Whenever a negative string appears and causes unpleasant feelings, the subject, if he has understood the method, will be able to at least vaguely connect it with his past experiences. For instance, a feeling that he is not as quick in finishing work as the others may be connected with earlier occasions when he had been evaluated as slow either by himself or by others. Once the subject is able to connect the unpleasant feeling that surges through the mind with a negative affective string of this type, he should visualise that the string is now being severed and is moving away and is being replaced by a positive string. The positive string may be formed by calling forth positive experiences of. say, having been evaluated as fast and efficient. In the alternative, the subject may just call forth a general positive feeling and associate it with the present context, by saying to himself, for instance, "The old string is now severed and moving away, and is being replaced with another string that makes me very fast and efficient." While saying this, he should, with eyes closed, visualise a string moving away and another string replacing it.
Once the subject gets trained in doing this, the entire severing and replacement process will work so fast and so smoothly that within seconds he will be able to change from the negative to the positive.
I do not wish to waste time placing my Orientations approach to behaviour and the string modification method in a theoretical perspective and try to figure out how it matches or differs from other approaches. The nearest parallel I can think of is the Indian idea of "vritties" or tendencies of the mind.
In case you wish to discuss my theories and methods in more detail, either with the idea of knowing more details or with a view to correct me, I shall be glad to interact with you on my email address dogrask888@yahoo.co.in
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