Behavioral Flashcards
Thorndike’s law of effect
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.
The primary goal of behavior therapy is…
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.)
how is behavior therapy different from other forms
–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
behavior therapy is a clinical application of…
the five steps that are common to the scientific method across all disciplines
Classical conditioning
-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.
Generalization
refers to responding to stimuli that are similar to the original conditioned stimulus (CS)
Discrimination
responding only to the original CS and not to other similar stimuli.
Operant conditioning
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
Skinner proposed that
consequences shape all behavior, including behavior labeled as abnormal. In effect, all our actions are governed by contingencies (if..then)
TECHNIQUES BASED ON OPERANT CONDITIONING
Contingency Management
Punishment (+/-) behavior less likely to occur in future
Reinforcement (+/-) behavior more likely to occur in future
reinforcing desired behaviors through rewards
what is a skinner box?
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
what is a fear hierarchy?
-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.)
TECHNIQUES BASED ON** CLASSICAL CONDITIONING**
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)
Systematic desensitization
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
Assertiveness training
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.
Extinction
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)
Extinction bursts
occur immediately after the removal of reinforcement (bird keeps hitting button, child cries louder)
Maladaptive
not providing adequate or appropriate adjustment to the environment or situation, handling situations in problematic ways
token economy
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)
shaping
the behavior therapist reinforces “baby steps” toward the desired behavior
break down new behvaior in series of steps
used for more serious situations
Behavioral activation
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.)
observational learning
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
2 different ways to learn from Observational learning
imitation
the client simply mimics the modeled behavior.
2 different ways to learn from Observational learning
vicarious learning
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.)
Behavioral consultation
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).
Parent training
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)
