7. Behavioural therapy Flashcards
Operant conditioning:
Positive reinforcement
behaviour increases because a positive stimulus is presented after behaviour.
Clinical eg: client behaves disruptively and is given more one-to-one attention
Operant conditioning:
Negative reinforcement
Behaviour increases because a negative stimulus is withdrawn after behaviour
Clinical eg: anxious client avoids a situation which makes them anxious, and feels relief
Operant conditioning:
Punishment
Behaviour decreases because an unpleasant stimulus is presented after behaviour
Clinical eg: Aversion therapy. Only used for alcohol now.
Operant conditioning:
Penalty/Response cost
Behaviour decreases because a pleasant stimulus is withdrawn.
Clinical eg: Whether agreed or unconsciously, therapist may pay more attention to certain behaviours by clients.
Social learning
- Vicarious reinforcement
- Modelling: attention, retention, reproduction, motivation
Variables: characteristics of model, of observer and reward consequences associated
Therapist = role model
Reciprocal determinism: learner not passive
People tend to engage in activities based on their sense of competence and/or past success.
Classical condition as a theory of psychopathology
It explains the origin of fear acquisition and current appearance of maladaptive response.
CS-US association is not erased, but replaced
Classical condition as a theory of psychopathology
Techniques
- Systematic desensitization (SD): slowly slowly approaching objective. Teach to react by relaxation, gradually expose.
- Exposure technique
- Flooding
- Aversion therapy (antabuse alcohol addiction)
Operant conditioning as a theory of psychopathology
It maintains altered response because avoidance (safety behaviours), cause relief, takes away anxiety so negative reinforcement.
Exposure and it’s types
Model of maximum habituation (Lader)
Theory of extinction (Lomont)
Make an exposure hierarchy (SUD’s 1-100)
- In vivo
- In imagination (therapist reports scene out loud)
- Virtual reality
- Interoceptive exposure (fear of fear, exposure to physical sensations of fear or panic, eg. hyperventilation= diziness)
Behavioural modification: increasing
- Positive reinforcement
- Token economy: kumon money. (regalos= backup reinforcers)
Adv: shorten time between response and reinforcement, can do it at all times, useful for people with different preferences and more incentive value than a simple reinforcement.
Limits: reduction of impact of tokens and risk of relapse.
Behavioural modification: decreasing
- Operant extinction: suppressing reinforcers. Typically beh. increases at the beginning and aggression or emotional beh. too. Then it may reappear after a lapse of time. (slow)
- Negative punishments: Response cost. use response cost with positive reinforcement of other beh. (rapid and effective+ lasting effects) ahould not reach negative balance (numeros rojos)
Time out: isolate where he can see them but not interact. 1 min per year of life. Non-verbal warning before application. Completion= when not emitting the beh. Not subjects that emit self-stimulating behaviour
Acceptance and commitment theory
ACT:
Intention is not to modify content of thought, but modify the function they have.
Rooted in Relational Frame Theory (RFT)
- Suffering is a necessary condition
- Language and hyper-reflexivity can keep us away from reality
- Experiential avoidance disorder- base of many orders
How is behavioural therapy today?
- 1st wave: behaviour modifications based on conditioning (behavioural therapy)
- 2nd wave: identify and challenge dysfunctional cognitions (cognitive therapy and CBT)
- 3rd wave: metacognitive shifts, experiential change strategies (ACT)
What are the strengths and limitations of behavioural therapy?
Strengths:
- specificity, turns unclear goals into concrete plans of action
- stresses doing instead of merely talking
- variety of specific techniques
- emphasis on research
Weaknesses:
- may change behaviour, but not feelings
- does not provide insight
- treats symptoms rather than causes
- involves control and social influence by therapist
ACT 6 organized processes?
Openness: acceptance (space for negative feelings) and cognitive defusion (detach)
Awareness: present moment awareness (here and now) and self as a context (conscious of observing self)
Active: values (desired qualities) and committed action (taking effective action)
They are all a part of psychological flexibility
