BEHAVIOURAL THERAPIES: PANACEA TO ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE IN NIGERIA | Ph.D THESIS



Abstract
The commencement of any political, ethnic and or religious  intolerance in Nigeria is traceable  to one or some acclaimed  leaders who have and nurture an obnoxious ideology of a kind and possibly sells same to people. This opinion paper holds that such people and even those who buy the ideas from them need conselling and in particular, behavioral therapies.
Procedural behavior modification programmes can be used as panacea to changing these ugly trends in the society to a better state where every one knows the value of truth, worth and dignity of man, respect for life and due regards to other people’s religion, beliefs and culture. Correcting the peoples’ ethnic and religious intolerance through behaviour therapies will induce an enduring and sustainable co-existence, filial respect for diverse cultures and national development in Nigeria.

Click Here to See the Procedure of Getting the Complete Work

Introduction
            In Nigeria, a good part of our behaviors are environmentally influenced. Acquisition of behavioural traits and characteristics can therefore be a matter of who you are, what you are, where you are and how you interact with people. The implication is that behavioural traits can be picked and can be dropped, depending on circumstances and the environment. Omebe (2005) writes that many behavior problems are learned and can as well be unlearned, can be changed or successfully maintained over time. Those ones which are usually rewarded tend to be repeated and those that receive no rewards, tend to be eliminated. The indication is that, no type of unwanted behaviour can not be dropped, if the behaviourist is properly counselled.
            Some people can grow up as religious or ethnic fanatics but when taken to places where such behaviour traits are de-emphasized, the behavior tends to wane. Where however, the individual finds himself in the midst of other fanatics, he could grow to be lethal and violent and as well, plant seeds of discord as much as he can be allowed. In the face of such characteristics, behavior therapies can be used to reshape the persons’ ideas, constructs and focus. Behavior therapy is also known as behavior modification and cognitive behavioural therapy. Behavior therapy involves all concerted efforts directed at impressing on a defiantly characterized fellow in order to turn a new leaf and live in such a way that it would not constitute nuisance to people around him.

Behaviour
            Some human behaviours are observable while some are unobservable. A good part of what builds up ones personality can be traced to be part of the behavioural processes. These behaviours at times are in forms of activities but the important thing is that it represents ones feelings, ideas or principles. Behaviour therefore can be described as any activity of man which is usually induced by ideas. It can be learnt and or unlearnt. It can be exhibited and clearly observed and such is described as overt behavior. Some of the behavioural traits can occur at a very high frequency and can easily be recorded and that used as basis for an individuals’ characteristics or personality. Thus laughter, talking, neatness, etc. can easily be observed. Mental processes, thinking and feelings can not be observed. A good part of these are engineered by physio-psychological processes or environmental factors and are thus regarded as covert behavior.
            Thus, Spielger and Guevremont (2010) write that accessing overt behaviours is relatively straight forward because they are directly observable unlike the assessment of covert behaviours which are inferred from overt behaviours. We learn of other peoples covert behaviours when they tell us about their thoughts and feelings and by observing what the person does and inferring from his or her overt actions. For example missing an appointment (overt behavior) might be an anchor for forgetting (covert behavior). Behaviours according to Essuman, Nwaogu and Nwachukwu (1990) can be classified into three types, viz: respondent, operant and learned behaviours.

Respondent behaviours
            These constitute reflex behaviours that occur as a result of stimuli. Most of these behaviours are genetically determined because they only happen as a result of their being elicited by other known stimuli.
Operant behavior
            These behaviours operate in the environment to generate consequences. They are emitted responses not elicited by any stimuli. They are practically, the natural behaviours of the organism which are freely emitted like smiling, laughing, walking, etc.
Learned behaviours
            These are typical behavioural patterns that can both be desirable or undesirable which are often governed by particular consequences of what is next, after the behavior has occurred. They are usually learnt in the environment.

Conclusion
            All the ethnic and religious groups in Nigeria need each other. Kubber-Ross (1970:4) wrote that “a husband and wife may have been fighting for years but when the partner dies, the survivor will pull the hair, whine and cry louder and beat the chest in regret, fear and anguish and will hence fear his own death more than before still believing in the law of an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth….I am responsible for the death I will have to die a pitiful death in retribution”. Any thing that goes around comes around.
            Therapists should do some task analysis and know when and how to apply which therapeutic processes and procedures on whom. Good assessment of events and situations can dictate the need for such therapeutics. Good awareness and educative programmes should be availed to people with good aversive training techniques. Good behavior control approach which Kadzin (1989) expresses, represent explicit attempts to alter specific behaviours in the context of education, treatment and rehabilitation of every day life. Lastly a basic feature of behavior modification programmes is the confident delivery of reinforcing events to alter behaviour. This should be the watchword.


REFERENCES
Aja-Akpuru, A (1997). Theory and practice of Marxism in a world in transition. Abakaliki: WAP publishers.                            

Craighead, W.E., Kadzin, A. E & Mahoney, M. J. (1976). Behavior modification: principles, issues and applications. Boston: Houghton Miflin.

Egbo,  J.O.E (2012). Ideology and value system: implication for counselling for indigenous values and norms. The Tertiary Counsellor. Vol. 1 (1) 31-43.

Essuman, J.K, Nwaogu, P.O. and Nwachukwu, V.C (1990) Principles and techniques of behaviour modification. Owerri: International Universities.

Goleman, D. (1999). Working with emotional in applied settings. California: Brools/cole Publishing Coy.

Omebe, S.E.(2005). Guidance and counselling: a comprehensive approach. Enugu: Chester Books.

Rubber –Kuss, E. (1970) On death and dying: what the dying have to teach doctors, nurses, clergy and their own families. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.

Spielger, M.D & Guevremont, D.C (2010) Contemporary behaviour therapy. California: Wadsworth.




DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS
FACULTY OF EDUCATION
EBONYI STATE UNIVERSITY
ABAKALIKI

AND

TARABA STATE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION,
J A L I N G O

BEING A SUBMISSION FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE JOURNAL OF COUNSELLING COUNSELLING ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (CASSON)
OYO STATE CHAPTER
NIGERIA


Click Here to See the Procedure of Getting the Complete Work
Share on Google Plus

Declaimer - MARTINS LIBRARY

The publications and/or documents on this website are provided for general information purposes only. Your use of any of these sample documents is subjected to your own decision NB: Join our Social Media Network on Google Plus | Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin

READ RECENT UPDATES HERE