9. Behaviour therapy Flashcards
what are the common factors in all therapy models?
o No one model is superior to the other
o all models help clients be better
o therapies of choice?
what was behaviourism a reaction to?
other mentalist models
what is human behaviour the consequence of?
reaction to stimuli in the environment
what are behavioural approaches geared to?
‘modifying human behaviour that are seen to be maladaptive’
o relative to whom?
o use of behavioural techniques in therapy is only one aspect of this
o used in a variety of other contexts
o domestic sphere, educational and other institutions, corrective services, consumer industry
what is the stimulus-response law based on?
the obejctive systematic observation
what is the focus of the stimulus-response law?
Focus on subject’s response to external stimuli
what are the factors and processes of the stimulus-response law?
- Replication of S-R behaviour under experimental conditions
- consistent across time and situation and therefore replicable
- Possibly to modify human behaviour by manipulating external stimuli
- Behavioural determinism
what is the brief history behind behavioural approaches?
• Early beginnings. Contemporary behavioural approaches have tended to move away from these earlier understanding of human behaviour- recognition that we humans are much more sophisticated and our behaviour much more complex and variable- exploring more contemporary applications
what theory is contemporary behavioural theory based on?
the learning theory
what are the 4 learning theories?
classical conditioning, operant conditioning, social learning, cognitive-behavioural
what is classical conditioning?
(Pavlov): learning through pairing or association of stimuli
what is operant conditioning?
(Thorndike, Skinner): learning through operating on or interacting with the environment
what is social learning?
(Bandura): learning through observation and modelling of significant others
what is cognitive-behavioral theory?
Eillis): Learning that includes the mediation of cognitive variables
when do we begin to learn?
o long before formal learning
o from the time we enter the world
what is the scientific view of human nature?
he individual is the producer and the produce of his/her environment
what is behavioral therapy based on?
based on the principles of procedures of the scientific method
what is the focus of behavioural therapy?
focus on client’s current maladaptive behaviours and the factors influencing them
what does behavioural therapy emphasise on?
emphasis on personal responsibility; tailored to ‘target behaviours’
how is behavioural therapy oriented?
action oriented focusing on client self-monitoring and rehearsing adaptive behaviours
what does behavioural therapy say about change?
change is not dependent on insight into underlying causes or dynamics
what does behavioural therapy require?
- ongoing assessment and evaluation of intervention
* requires a collaborative therapist/client relationship
what are humans according to behavioural therapists?
blank slates where patterns are imprinted over the life span
what is the scientist-practitioner model?
client/therapist evaluation in therapeutic context
what is required for a person to change?
commitment and what the person is commited to do in order to bring change. it is not just thinking, planning and intending
why is behavioural therapy collavorative?
o Value/benefits of change, possibility of change, resources to bring about change
o skilled in empathetic negotiation
o patience to journey with client
what are maladaptive behaviours?
o not right or wrong, good or bad
o what client sees as working for them
what is personal responsibility with regard to maladaptive behavours>
in the recognition of maladaptive behaviours and acting to change – limited insight
what are the uses of classical conditioning in behavioural therapy?
systematic desensitisation (reciprocal inhivition)
what is systematic desensitisation?
o targets a range of anxiety based disorders – phobias
o couples with progressive muscle relaxation training
o used in the inhibition of atypical sexual arousal
how is operant conditioning used in behavioural therapy in a positive way?
: introduction of something experienced by the subject as positive with a view to enhancing desired behaviours
e.g.
o Partner coming home early and getting children ready for bed
o cheering at a sporting event
o incorporating self-reinforcement
o cheer-leading in therapy
o reduction in petrol consumption for keeping speed limits
how is operant conditioning used in behavioural therapy in a negative way?
\: introduction of something experienced by the subject as aversive with a view to initiating a desired behaviours e.g. o Seat belt buzzer o electric fences o antabuse of smoking o electric shocks for pedophiles o speed bumps o turning off in therapy
how is operant conditioning used in behavioural therapy with rewards and punishment way?
: intended to decrease/enhance target behaviour, but are more about disapproval or approval of behaviours
what is punishment?
- why the effect is limited?
- short term
- aversive emotional states
- link with agents
- models aggressive behaviour
- about power & control
- (Grounding adolescents, prison sentences, traffic fines)
what are rewards?
- unrelated to behaviour
- effects are temporary
- based on external evaluation
what are primary reinforcements?
food, sex, tactile
what are secondary reinforcements?
acceptance, inclusion, promotion, verbal accolades
what is relative reinforcement?
o the person
o intensity
o situation
o satiation
what is conditioned reinforcement?
o money
o attention
o status
what is discriminative reinforcement?
environmental stimulus which calls for response. e.g. • traffic light • flood guage • lighting • a loss in gambling
what is the shaping reinforcement?
reinforcing steps towards a desired behaviour e.g. time management, managing alcohol consumption
what is involved in social learning?
social skills training, modelling
what is involved in modelling?
vicarious, characteristics of models, types of models.
what does social learning aim to achieve?
learning to extinguish, manage behaviours in adaptive ways (anger management, social anxiety, substance abuse). assertion training
what are some behaviours learnt through modelling?
o social skills
o manners
o managing emotions
o assertiveness
what is vicarious modelling?
identifying with another
what are the characteristics of models?
o status
o relationship
o consistent
o reliable
what are types of models?
o Live
o pretend models
o models in literature & TV
what are self-management programs?
community based behaviour management programs that are economical, ongoing ad self-directed
what are the goals of self-management programs?
o selecting concrete goals
o identifying target behaviours
o self-monitoring through use of behaviour diaries and ABC analysis
o developing action plans with build in reinforcements
o evaluation
what is the process of behavioural (functional) analysis?
- identify target behaviour through self-monitoring
- operationalize (make concrete) the behaviour
- explore-
- construct behaviour change goals
in the explore step of behavioural (functional analysis), what does a, B, C stand for?
A = antecedents B = behaviour C = consequences
what are the characteristics of goaling in behaviour therapy?
- collaborative process
- client identifies desired change
- client ‘owns’ the goal/s
- goals are observable and quantifiable
- identifying intermediate goals
- clarifying whether goals are attainable
- costs-benefits evaluated
- develop plan of action over time
- evaluate progress over time
what are the therapeutic techniques of behavioural therapy?
- systematic desensitization
- reinforcement
- relaxation training
- flooding
- exposure therapy – in vivo or imaginal
- social skills training
- assertiveness training
- eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
