Behavior modification (basic)

Behavior is defined as the actions or reactions of a person or animal in response to external or internal stimuli. It includes any kind of action, visible/observable (eg movement) and non visible/non observable  (eg psychological frustration).
Psychologist, specially the behavioral therapist works on the visible behavior because it is measurable and defined. Psychologists believe that all the behavior are learnt excepts the reflexes. There are 2 ways of learning the behavior.

1. Classical Conditioning
2. Operant conditioning

Classical conditioning is based on the stimulus leading to behavior.
For example, the child went for hair cut and he did not like it because of some reason so he cries every-time he passes through the barber shop.  The child does not like the taste of a particular food, next time with looking itself he rejects before he actually tastes it. This is classical conditioning
Operant conditioning is based on the consequences or results on the behavior.
If the result is favourable to the child, the child tends to repeat the action more often because of repeating the reward. For example if the child is communication delayed and he throws the things to seek attention and attention is given, the child learns it to repeat throwing to gain attention of parents.

If the behavior modification theory is well understood parents may modify or motivate the desirable behavior of the child if the child has behavior issues with some professional guidance.