What term describes influencing the environment to achieve desired outcomes?

The term that describes influencing the environment to achieve desired outcomes is behavior modification. Behavior modification involves systematically applying principles of reinforcement and punishment to change behavior, allowing individuals to adapt their actions in such a way that they can better achieve their goals.

Behavior modification focuses on observable behaviors and employs structured approaches like rewards or consequences to influence how individuals act in various situations. This can lead to desired outcomes by modifying how people interact with their environment based on the responses they receive.

Understanding this concept is vital, as it emphasizes the proactive role individuals can play in shaping their behaviors to align with desired results. While operant conditioning is closely related and also revolves around modifying behavior through rewards and punishments, it doesn't capture the broader context of actively influencing the environment for specific outcomes as effectively as behavior modification does.