Behavioral - General

Question 1

What are the assumptions of Behavioral models of therapy?

Answer 1

• Linear Causality: Behavioral problems are caused by dysfunctional patterns of reinforcement between family members.
• Patterns are universally true for all humans (modernist view)
• Interactions involve patterns of behavior where each person’s behavior is affected by others, & affects others.
• Since behavior is learned and maintained by cause/effect, it can be changed the same way
• Behaviors will change when effects/reinforcements are altered
• Only need to work with the ppl in a family who are involved in maintaining problem behaviors
• Underlying meaning, emotions, and structural issues don’t matter

Question 2

What are the learning theories that Behavioral Models are based on?

Answer 2

• Classical Conditioning
• Operant conditioning

Question 3

How does dysfunction happen, in Behavioral models?

Answer 3

Dysfunctional behaviors are learned responses, involuntarily acquired & reinforced.

These may happen in the absence of good communication and problem-solving skills, or where giving & getting are out of balance.

Question 4

What is Classical Conditioning?

Answer 4

Ivan Pavlov - 1930’s.
Conditioning creates stimulation of a response with a stimulus that normally would not cause the response.
The Bell is the “conditioned stimulus” and salivation is the “conditioned response”.

When a stimulus/response are natural, they are “unconditioned.”

Question 5

What is the Little Albert experiment?

Answer 5

John Watson did it: classical conditioning with a boy created a phobia.

Scientists learned how to modify behavior/emotion through this experiment.

Question 6

What mental health issues are targets of Behavioral techniques?

Answer 6

• Anxiety disorders
• Enuresis (involuntary urination esp at night)
• Performance anxiety
• Sexual arousal problems due to performance anxiety
• Phobias

Question 7

What is Systematic Desensitization?

Answer 7

Treatment for classically conditioned responses - through relaxation techniques, exposure (hierarchy/fear ladder), and both together.

Question 8

Who originated Systematic Desensitization?

Answer 8

Joseph Wolpe

Question 9

Who discovered Operant Conditioning?

Answer 9

B.F. Skinner

Question 10

What is Operant Conditioning?

Answer 10

You can change how often voluntary behavior happens by changing the consequences.

Question 11

What is Negative and Positive Reinforcement?

Answer 11

To strengthen or reinforce a behavior you want, you take away a bad thing (negative reinforcement) or +add a good thing (+positive reinforcement) when the person does it.

Question 12

What is Negative and Positive Punishment?

Answer 12

To reduce or eliminate a behavior you don’t want, you +add a bad thing (+positive punishment), or remove a good thing (-negative punishment).

Question 13

What is Punishment vs Reinforcement?

Answer 13

Punishment is about a behavior you don’t like. It weakens a response with the goal of eliminating a behavior.

Reinforcement is about a behavior you DO like. It strengthens a response with the goal of increasing a behavior.

For both:
+ Positive = adding a stimulus
- Negative = removing a stimulus

Question 14

What are some current uses of Behavioral techniques?

Answer 14

• Behavioral parent training
• Assertiveness training
• Problem solving & communication skills training
• Token economies

These are all operant conditioning methods.

Question 15

What is the goal of treatment in Behavioral techniques

Answer 15

Diminish problem behaviors and/or increase positive behaviors.

HOW?
- Increase rate of rewarding interactions
- Decrease rate of coercion and aversive control
- Establishing short- & long-term goals

Question 16

What is the stance of the therapist in Behavioral approaches?

Answer 16

Teacher, coach, model, and reinforcer.

Responsible for:
◦ Designing treatment
◦ Assigning homework
◦ Finding ways to generalize progress to outside life
◦ Building in processes that help maintain progress
◦ Treating clients in vivo (outside office where problems actually occur)