Behavior modification is the traditional term for the use of empirically demonstrated behavior change techniques to increase or decrease the frequency of behaviors. The purpose behind behavior modification is not to understand why or how a particular behavior started. Instead, it only focuses on changing the behavior, and there are various different methods used to accomplish it. This includes:

It is used to treat many disorders such as attention deficit disorder, phobic disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorders, habit disorders, autism, sexual deviations/dysfunctions, social skills deficits or oppositional defiant disorder. Furthermore, the fundamentals of behavior modification can be used to increase desired behaviors in any individual, regardless of functional level. 

Behavior modification is now known as Applied behavior analysis (ABA) which is more analytical than it used to be.