Behavioral

Question 1

Thorndike’s law of effect

Answer 1

behavior that is followed by pleasant consequences is likely to be repeated, while behavior that is followed by unpleasant consequences is less likely to be repeated.

Question 2

The primary goal of behavior therapy is…

Answer 2

observable behavior change
-goal stands in contrast to goals of psychodynamic & humanistic approaches (each of which emphasizes internal mental processes, making the unconscious conscious and fostering self-actualization, respectively.)

Question 3

how is behavior therapy different from other forms

Answer 3

–emphasis on empircism (has a script, logical sequence, can be measured)
–missing vital element; cognitive piece of therapy (thoughts/feelings) which is where cognitive/behavioral therapy comes in
–Behavioral therapists take the stance that the study of human behavior (normal or abnormal) should be scientific

Question 4

behavior therapy is a clinical application of…

Answer 4

the five steps that are common to the scientific method across all disciplines

Question 5

Classical conditioning

Answer 5

-exemplified by Pavlov’s studies; dogs learned through experience that certain stimuli (the bell) predicted that food would be delivered, and, as a result, they began to salivate in response to the stimuli
-type of learning that occurs through the association of two or more stimuli.

Question 6

Generalization

Answer 6

refers to responding to stimuli that are similar to the original conditioned stimulus (CS)

Question 7

Discrimination

Answer 7

responding only to the original CS and not to other similar stimuli.

Question 8

Operant conditioning

Answer 8

occurs when the organism “operates” on the environment, notices the consequences of the behavior, and incorporates those consequences into decisions regarding future behavior
Behavior is a function of its consequences

Question 9

Skinner proposed that

Answer 9

consequences shape all behavior, including behavior labeled as abnormal. In effect, all our actions are governed by contingencies (if..then)

Question 10

TECHNIQUES BASED ON OPERANT CONDITIONING

Contingency Management

Answer 10

Punishment (+/-) behavior less likely to occur in future

Reinforcement (+/-) behavior more likely to occur in future
reinforcing desired behaviors through rewards

Question 11

what is a skinner box?

Answer 11

designed to study how we learn through operant conditioning. The box contains a lever or button that an animal can press to receive a reward (food). The animal learns that pressing the lever results in the reward, and over time, the behavior becomes reinforced/more likely to occur again in the future

Gambling, card games, slot machines -> skinner box

Question 12

what is a fear hierarchy?

Answer 12

-Technique used in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help individuals overcome their fears/phobias. involves creating a list of stimuli that trigger fear or anxiety (starting with the least anxiety-provoking and progressing to the most
-Gradually exposing them to desensitize them/manange their anxiety (combined w relaxation, etc.)

Question 13

TECHNIQUES BASED ON** CLASSICAL CONDITIONING**

Answer 13

Exposure therapy - the clinical psychologist’s version of “facing your fears.”

Aversion therapy - when unwanted behavior brings about an aversive stimulus (putting stuff on nail biters’ nails, shock bracalet for smoker -> controlling unwanted behaviors)

Question 14

Systematic desensitization

Answer 14

When exposure therapy works, the feared object is eventually paired with nothing (rather than the fear response), but when systematic desensitization
works, the feared object is paired with a new response that replaces + blocks the fear response. relaxation techniques

Question 15

Assertiveness training

Answer 15

a specific application of classical conditioning that targets clients’ social anxieties ( includes elements of exposure therapy + SD) being more asserertive with ordering food, decsion making, etc.

Question 16

Extinction

Answer 16

removal of expected reinforcement that results in a decrease in the frequency of the behavior Negative reinforcers remove unwanted stimuli Gambling, card games, slot machines -> skinner box (bird experiment, stop giving them food)

Question 17

Extinction bursts

Answer 17

occur immediately after the removal of reinforcement (bird keeps hitting button, child cries louder)

Question 18

Maladaptive

Answer 18

not providing adequate or appropriate adjustment to the environment or situation, handling situations in problematic ways

Question 19

token economy

Answer 19

clients earn tokens for participating in established target behavior. These tokens can be exchanged for reinforcements (food, games, privileges) anything else deemed desirable by the client, can also be taken.
used in cites where clients’ behavior is under
ongoing surveillance (psych ward)

Question 20

shaping

Answer 20

the behavior therapist reinforces “baby steps” toward the desired behavior
break down new behvaior in series of steps
used for more serious situations

Question 21

Behavioral activation

Answer 21

highlights how crucial it is to know whether a client is engaging in a particular behavior because it brings positive reinforcement or enables the client to avoid something unpleasant
method of planning and encouraging activities that bring pleasure and preclude depression (originally used for depression only but now used for anxiety disorder, etc.)

Question 22

observational learning

Answer 22

Albert Bandura; the broken soda machine scenario, technique in which the client observes a demonstration of the desired behavior and given chances to imitate it

Question 23

2 different ways to learn from Observational learning

imitation

Answer 23

the client simply mimics the modeled behavior.

Question 24

2 different ways to learn from Observational learning

vicarious learning

Answer 24

when an individual learns by observing the behavior of others and the consequences of that behavior.
the learner does not have to directly experience the situation to learn from it, but can learn from the experiences of others (watching video, reading, etc.)

Question 25

Behavioral consultation

Answer 25

indirect way to modify a client’s behavior, differs from direct clinical services in that there are always three parties involved: the client, the consultee, and the consultant (therapist).

Question 26

Parent training

Answer 26

specific form of behavioral consultation in which parents seek help with problematic behaviors of their children (hyperactivity, not going to bed)
the consultant (behavior therapist) may never meet the child directly, they just inform parent what they should do
(there is also Teacher training)