CHAPTER II

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

INTRODUCTION

The Behavior Management is a component of Therapeutic

Community Modality Program (TCMP) thatintroduces the concept
and mechanics of the various shaping tools to include Morning
Meeting in order to facilitate the management of and shape the
behavior of the residents. This shows the essential elements and
significance of the tools which would provide the community
common language, increase cohesiveness and adapt to the moral
and behavioral code of the tools application. The behavior shaping
tools are ordered in hierarchy to provide enough room for personal
growth and learning. The community serves as a dynamic force that
motivates the individual to achieve positive behavior change.

Objectives:

1.)To introduce the concept of behavior management through the

use of various behavior shaping tools to residents.
2.)To institutionalize the practice of behavior shaping tools to
foster behavior change among residents.
3.)To highlight the importance of behavior management in
relation to the other TCMP components towards attitudinal
change among residents.

Indicators:

1.)Residents will understand the different Behavior Shaping

Tools and practice them as part of their daily living.
2.)Residents will utilize the different behavior shaping tools in
promoting change within themselves and others.
3.)Residents will display improvement in demeanor,
communication and social skills.
4.)Residents will understand the relevance of the different tools
in the attainment of behavioral change.
TOOLS

*Pre Morning Meeting

*Morning Meeting

*Talk To

*Pull Up

*Dealt With

*Haircut

*Learning Experience/ Bans

*General Meeting

*Expulsion
 Exp
ulsi
on
General
Meeting

Learning
Experience/Bans

Haircut

Dealt With

Pull-Up

Talk To
 Figure 1. Hierarchy of Behavior Shaping Tools

PRE MORNING MEETING

Duration/ Frequency: Fifteen minutes daily

Participants: Senior residents, Counselor

Pre-Morning Meeting is done early in the morning prior to the

Morning Meeting. Senior members of the community will meet for
about fifteen (15) minutes to discuss the attitude of the house the
previous day. It is also where the senior members formulate
solutions to the concerns discussed and to be executed during the
day. The attendees will also discuss the activities to be engaged in
the Morning Meeting and make sure that all participants are ready
with their corresponding parts and determine the amount of time to
be allotted for each part. The group will agree on the theme or
concept of the day.This is to make sure that everything is ironed out
prior to the conduct of the Morning Meeting such as the validation
of pull-ups and other concerns.

MORNING MEETING

Duration/ frequency: One hour daily

Participants: All residents, Counselor

Morning Meeting is a daily ritual that starts the day in a TC

faclility. It is attended by the whole community and lasts for an
hour. It commences with the Opening Prayer, Singing of the
Philippine National Anthem and the recitation of the TC Philosophy.
It is usually facilitated by any member of the community. It is
divided into two (2) parts namely: (1) public announcements and
community concerns and (2) community-spirit building or up
rituals.

The first part of the meeting consists of public announcements

regarding important activities or businesses and other information
that the community needs to know. It is a review of how the
community performed in the previous day and check on the
behavior of erring members through the conduct of “pull-ups”. A
pull up is done as an expression of concern over the lapses of some
members and encourage ownership of mistakes on the violators.
The pull-up is followed by affirmations of good deeds, display of
responsible concern towards peers or unselfish acts of some
residents. This is to show that good deeds are not left unnoticed
and leave a feeling of self-worth to those concerned. The first part of
the Morning Meeting is a serious business where the members are
expected to be formal in their demeanors. Rules are set such as: no
side talking, no cross legging, no laughing, hands on the laps and
sit erect.

The Concept of the Day serves as a guide as to what direction

the community is headed for the day. It is elaborated by residents of
the community to have a better understanding of the whole
concept. The concept of the day is preferably taken from the
Unwritten Philosophies of TCMP.

The second part of the meeting consists of entertaining

presentations to lighten up the mood and start the day on a positive
note. It somehow develops some talents and shed off inhibitions of
participants.
PARTS OF THE MORNING MEETING

I. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT/CONCERNS

a. Opening Prayer (Ecumenical)

b. Singing of the Philippine National Anthem (Flag must be
displayed)

c. TC Philosophy (Adopted translation)

d. Announcements
 Staff (Director, Asst. Director, Counselor & other
personnel)
 Residents (Coordinators, Dep’t Heads, Expediters)
 Report on Dorm Inspection by Chief Expediter
e. Community Concerns
 Pull-ups/ elaboration
 Affirmations
f. Concept of the Day
g. Verse of the Day

II. UP – RITUALS

h. News casting (Local, Nat’l, International, Sports and

Weather News)
i. Entertainment (Choose either Song, Dance, Skit,
Humorous Story)
j.Community Singing (Any song that has relation to the
Concept of the Day)
k.Greetings
 Exp
ulsi
on
General
Meeting

Learning
Experience/Bans
Figure 1. Hierarchy of Behavior Shaping Tools

HIERARCHY OF BEHAVIOR SHAPING TOOLS

Behavior Shaping Tools (BST) is employed to strengthen the

learning process and the practice of more adaptive behaviors within
the social learning environment. The major tools of the BST, such
as the Talk To, Pull–up, Dealt With, Haircut, Learning Experience,
General Meeting and Expulsion were developed as a means to
correct behaviors of the residents that violated the TC norms. The
Hierarchy of Behavior Shaping Tools will serve as a guide to
determine which of the tools are appropriate to be used based on
the severity of the infraction or violations committed by the
residents against the TC Rules as shown in Figure 1.

TALK TO

A “Talk To” is an outright correction done by any member of

the TC community to another member who has done a minor
infraction but is not aware of it. It is a friendly reminder/advice
about an unacceptable behavior and must be done privately.
During a “Talk To”, the resident is made aware of his/her negative
behavior and the results it may have on others and the
environment. The feedback given to the resident who committed
mistake is done in a positive way. This is to evoke awareness on the
part of the violators to avoid committing the same mistake and be
given heavier sanctions if done in the future.

PULL-UP

A Pull-up is done as a result of lack, missed or lapses in

awareness in a resident. All the members of the community are
responsible to pull-up minor infractions done by peers. It
encourages honesty, demeanor awareness and owning up to one’s
mistakes. This is done when the violator is unknown and must be
validated first prior to bringing up in the Morning Meeting.

Pull-ups create a certain degree of dissonance on the guilty

party whereby there is a strong internal conflict whether to practice
honesty or continue to live in a lie. When the resident is able to
overcome the impulse to lie and start practicing honesty, his
commitment to live by the TC standards increases.

The resident receiving the pull-up is expected to listen without

saying a word, assume that it is valid, quickly display the corrected
behavior and express gratitude in receiving it. After one member did
the pull-up, other residents who want to show concern can make
elaborations to give emphasis to the infractions and concretize the
admonitions that need to be relayed to the violator. Two to three
elaborations are ideal.

Too many elaborations are discouraged as they may take so

much time. Focus should be given to the behavior and not the
person. It is meant to raise awareness and not to punish or
embarrass the violator. Personal attacks, shaming or the use of
racist language are strictly forbidden during pull-ups. It should be
emphasized that pull-ups are done out of responsible love and
concern to avoid creating negative feelings during the process.

In a situation wherein no one stood and owned up a negative

behavior raised in the pull-up, the resident doing the Pull-Up will
narrow down the Pull-Up to make it clear and specific, stating the
place and time of the occurrence. In the event that nobody stood to
own it up, the resident doing the Pull-Up will instead ask the
community to stand and there, he/she will deliver his pull-up
addressing the entire family believing that the violator is a
responsibility of the whole community.

Example of a Pull-up:

The moderator asks for someone who has a Pull-up. A member

raises his hand and declared: “Who among my brothers/ sisters did
not flush the toilet after using it early in the morning?”

(Sinu-sino saating mga kapatid na naririto ang hindi nagbuhos

ng tubig sa palikuran (kubeta) pagkatapos gumamit kaninang
umaga?) A few people stood up to admit the pull up. The resident
doing the Pull-Up then gives his/her admonition/advice to the
violators. The moderator asks for elaborations.

All members attending the Morning Meeting must raise their

hands to show their concerns. It is noted that a question must be
asked mentioning the circumstances using the 3Ws (What, Where,
and When). The violators are not allowed to talk or respond but just
stand, face the community andaccept the admonitions. The
number of elaborations depends upon the number of Pull-Ups. The
more Pull-Ups brought in, the less elaborations.

1st elaboration: “Brothers/sisters, we should always be aware

of our actions. Going to the toilet is a routine activity. It is a must that
we should flush it after using to keep it clean. We should always
think of other people who might use it after us”.

2nd elaboration: “Brothers/ sisters, whatever our wrong

practices in the past are should be corrected here. We need to put our
lives in order. Flushing the toilet is a basic action that needs no
reminders. We should always practice cleanliness and good
hygiene”.
 3rd elaboration: “Brothers/ sisters the reason we are here is
because of some wrongdoings. Let us leave all of those behind us.
Let us be aware of our actions and give consideration to other people.
We should not impose on others what we don’t want to experience
ourselves. Before leaving the toilet, make sure that you have done
what you are expected to do. Please be responsible.”

DEALT WITH

Dealt With is done when negative behaviors or infractions to

the House Rules/Norms are done for the second time of same
offense by a resident.

A panel of three (3) composed of a senior resident, peer and a

friend are tasked to deliver a serious and stern reprimand to the
subjected resident.

Although the tool does not strictly require the presence of a

staff, to attain its purpose, the staff should monitor its conduct to
ensure that the panel assigned to the task really acted
appropriately. It is done privatelyin a room or an area with no other
else hearing the conversation. Figure 2 shows the Dealt With
Formation.

Resident
Subjected to
Dealt With

Peer Senior Friend

Resident
 Figure 2. Dealt With Formation

HAIRCUT

Haircut is done when negative behaviors or infractions to the

House Rules/Norms in same offense are donefor the third time or
more or for first time grave offenses. It is a carefully planned and
structured verbal reprimand given by a Staff with four other
residents - Senior Resident, Peer, Big Brother, and Department
Head (Figure 3). The tone is more serious and can be loud, more
harsh and exaggerated.

This is done to induce anxiety and eventually change the

person’s behavior. Before the group calls in the person, they will
discuss among themselves the order of speakers, how intense the
haircut will be and what sanctions will be given if any. The resident
is then called inside and waits until he is asked to sit.

He will be asked if he knows the reason for his appearance.

After the person’s response, he will be asked to sit and remain
silent to enable him/her absorb all the advices.

The haircut gives emphasis on the behavior of the resident

and the severity of the haircut should be appropriate to the gravity
of the offense. Each member of panel is given ample time to express
himself without interruption from the other members. The staff or
peer who booked the haircut should not be part of the team so as to
avoid bias or subjectivity.Before a resident be subjected to Haircut,
his/her infraction must be first investigated,discussed and
decidedby the Disciplinary Board (Book II, Rule 2, Section4 of the
BJMP Manual). Sanction/Learning Experience that has been
decided upon by the jail Disciplinary Board and the TCMP staff will
be imposed after the Haircut.

Resident
Subjected to
Haircut

Senior Dep’t Big

Staff Peer
Resident Head Brother

Figure 3. Haircut Formation

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

A Learning Experience (LE) is an action or activity given to a

resident who was subjected to Haircut or General Meeting who did
an infraction to correct or modify a behavior. LE may betask –
oriented, written task or peer interactions. Since TCMP is
educational rather than punitive in its approach to behavioral
change, the LE should be done in a way that would remind the
person of the negative attitude he has done without compromising
his human dignity. The intent of the LE is not to stigmatize the
person but to motivate him to make restitutions for the wrong
doings he committed and redeem himself in the community.
 The LE should be related to the infraction committed for him
to focus on the behavior expected of him in the community. It
should not be given as a punishment but rather a motivation to
develop more positive attitude. This will develop a sense of
responsibility on him while stressing his inadequacies. LE should
be realistic and humane. Putting a person on LE for more than one
(1) week may lessen the learningobjective. Putting the person on LE
for an extended period of time or sanctions that are far harsher
than the offense or may deny him of the basic necessities may
border on abuse and violation of human rights.

Close supervision with clear goals increases the effectiveness

of the sanction.Upon lifting the LE after seven (7) days, the resident
subjected to the tool will be accorded with a Senior Resident coming
from his/her Static Group who will provide guidance and
continually monitors the performance in the house of the former.
The senior resident assigned will give a self-report after fifteen (15)
days on how the resident (who undergone LE) carried out his
responsibilities after the LE and state therein the resident’s
condition whether he/she needs further supervision.The authority
in giving LE lies in the Disciplinary Board and TCMP staff.

Examples of LE:

*If a resident has been missing out in his responsibilities in the

kitchen, he can be assigned as in charge of cleaning the kitchen for
a specific period of time.

*If a resident repeatedly leaves his bed in disarray, he can be asked

to provide orientation and supervision to new residents on how to
keep their beds neat at all times.
Categories of Learning Experiences:

a. Task-Oriented LE
 Pots and Pans
 Grounds and Landscaping
 Cleaning and Maintenance
 Time keeping (wake up calls, lights out calls)

b. Written tasks
 Composition or Essay
 Reproduction of TCMP Materials

c. Peer Interaction
 Reading and reporting of topic
 Announcements (Morning Meeting or House Meeting)
 Bans

BANS

Bans are sanctions to members who commit repeatedly

infractions or violation to the Cardinal Rules by prohibiting,
disallowing or limiting an activity or affiliation to a group.

It somehow curtails some freedom of movement and

association. This sanction causes unpleasant feelings which people
try to avoid hence may evoke behavioral changes in the future. It
must be applied consistently after the adverse behavior to
emphasize the negative consequences. Privileges limited should
have impact but must not limit individual ability to meet personal
hygiene, nutritional and emotional needs. A resident subjected to
Bans must be first processed in a General Meeting called for the
purpose.

Examples of Bans:

*Regulation of visiting privilege

*Banned from attending Entertainment and Recreational
activities

GENERAL MEETING

A repeated breach to the Cardinal Rules necessitates a General

Meeting. Such issue should be discussed with the community to
point out to the violator the negative effect the behavior had on the
community. Such offense includes sexual acting-out with a fellow
resident, taking drugs and engaging in physical fight with another
resident. Other facilities include stealing or even smoking as part of
the Cardinal Rules. These behaviors pose a threat to the community
because they violate the established order and safety of the facility.

Procedure in a General Meeting:

1. A General Meeting is called and led by a senior member of the

staff, usually the Director of the facility. The extent of the
problem is assessed to determine who among the community
members are involved in the incident. Those guilty of the
offense are asked to sit in a prospect chair. This is to arouse
anxiety and dissonance.

2. The Director sets the tone of the meeting and leads the
community in an open expression of opinions and feelings
regarding the offense brought out into the community. He
 holds the community accountable for the slip of its members
as each is considered his “brother’s keeper” .The Director
opens the floor for feedbacks, inviting the community for self-
reflection and accountability. The formation of the General
Meeting is shown in Figure 4.

Example:

Director: “Good afternoon family! We are gathered here this

afternoon because two members of our community badly need our
help. They engaged in a physical fight which caused some injuries
in both of them. We have to ask ourselves how we failed them. Why
did we miss this brewing hostility between the 2 of them?

Remember, we are their keepers but we let them down by allowing

them to harbor the hatred towards each other without us noticing it
or doing something about it. We lack awareness to detect the subtle
signs that this incident is coming. Now, our brothers are in this
predicament because we were remiss in our duties to care for them.
I want you to account to me what led to this.

John: “Good afternoon family. I’m Mario and Greg’s big brother but
I failed to notice that something negative is going on between them.
I was preoccupied with my own business that I failed to talk to any
of them these past few days. Had I tried to reach out, I might have
learned something and could have prevented this thing from
happening. I feel guilty about it.

These revelations are open to other members of the community.

 3. As soon as the mood is set and the level of awareness of the
community is raised, the leader calls for the violators to face
the entire community. The leader encourages the community
to express their feelings about the offense committed by the
violators.

Example:

Peter: “Mario and Greg, I am very disappointed with what you did.
You were supposed to be our role models but what you did just
showed us how immature the both of you in resorting to violence as
a way of resolving your conflict. You had been in the community for
quite some time and we expect you to know how to control your
anger and use the tools of the house to express them. I hope you
can be more patient and tolerant of each other. I really feel bad
about what happened.

4. After some members of the community have expressed their

feelings, it is time for the violators to account for what they
did, share their deepest feelings and verbalize what they
learned from the mistake.

Example:

Mario: “Good afternoon family! I would like to apologize for my

behavior. I had been harboring this dislike towards Greg for quite
some time and I just kept it to myself for fear that other people
might judge me. It just started as a petty disagreement. I didn’t
think that it will develop and pile up until it came to a boiling point.
I should have shared my feelings in the proper forum so we could
have resolved it without resorting to violence. I’ve learned my lesson
and I want to apologize to Greg for my behavior. I hope we can start
all over again as friends.”

Greg will be given the chance to make a statement as well.

5. After the violators made their statements and offer

commitments, the Director will mark the closure of the issue
and allow for processing of the events that transpired and
provide appropriate emotional support to the violators who
have just been subjected to intense emotional experience.

Sanction will then be given to the violators.

Legend:

- Director/Staff

- Subjected Residents

- Residents

Figure 4. General Meeting Formations

EXPULSION

In extreme cases, when a resident is incorrigible and becomes

a threat to the community (Instigator, initiator of jail disturbances),
the Director with the recommendation of the Disciplinary Board
may transfer him/her to the nearest jail facility with an appropriate
Court Order.