Behaviour modification

The techniques of behaviour therapy may be applied to individuals who are not suffering from behaviour disorders as defined in terms of strictly medical considerations. Individuals may be defined as social deviants for political or ideological reasons, and subjected to techniques such as conditioning to encourage them to conform to behaviour patterns consistent with the views of a dominant group. A clear distinction has not been made between beneficial behaviour therapy techniques and abuse of such techniques to serve interests other than those of the individual subjected to them.