Behaviour Therapy

Question 0

Name the features that characterize behaviour therapy in all of it’s forms

Answer 0

1. Focuses on changing behaviour
2. Is rooted in empiricism
3. Behaviours are assumed to have a function
4. Emphasizes maintaining factors rather than the factors that may have initially triggered the problem
5. Supported by research
6. Is active and directive
7. Is transparent

Question 1

How do behaviour therapists define the word behaviour

Answer 1

Broadly, to include motor behaviours, physiological responses, emotions and cognitions

Question 2

Behaviour therapy vs cognitive therapy

Answer 2

Closely aligned bc directive and brief. Many contemporary behaviour therapists believe that thoughts play an important role. Like Behavior therapy, cognitive therapy and REBT are time limited, directive, transparent, evidence based and active.

Question 3

Behaviour therapy vs psychoanalysis

Answer 3

Most different. Psychoanalysis assumes that observable behavioural symptoms are a manifestation of unconscious conflicts and motivations, but behaviour therapy takes behaviours at face value. Compared to behaviour therapy, psychoanalysis tends to be no directive, less transparent, less evidence based and more reliant on interpretation by the therapist, and more focused on developing insight into early developmental contributors to a problem rather than it’s current maintaining factors. Unlike behaviour therapists, psychoanalysts believe that to deliver good psychotherapy, therapists must also have undergone own psychoanalysis. Finally, psychoanalysis can’t explain the results of behaviour therapy, which often contradict the principles of psychoanalysis (symptom substitution vs generalization)

Question 4

Behaviour therapy vs client centred psychotherapyb

Answer 4

Client centred is not directive and doesn’t include homework assignments between sessions. However, have uncommon what is important in all psychotherapies, which is a warm, trustworthy and congruent therapist

Question 5

Behaviour therapy vs Adlerian therapy

Answer 5

Emphasizes importance of changing ones beliefs, particularly those that minimize self worth, and also uses several action oriented techniques that may overlap with some behavioural strategies. Also share the view that abnormal behaviour is best construed in terms of problems of living rather than evidence of illness. Adaptive and maladaptive behaviours develop through the same methods

Question 6

Behaviour therapy vs gestalt therapy

Answer 6

Gestalt uses some behavioural strategies like role plays and strategies where clients experience their emotions and feelings rather than trying to control them.

Question 7

Behaviour therapy vs interpersonal therapy

Answer 7

Brief, highly structured, includes some behavioural strategies like social skills training.

Question 8

Behaviour therapy vs family therapy

Answer 8

Behaviour therapy can be administered in a family context (behavioural family therapy)

Question 9

What do trait theories assume

Answer 9

Each individual has unique, enduring patterns if behaviour that can be observed across a wide range of situations and that these patterns can be understood in terms if specific personality characteristics (traits) that vary in intensity from low to high

Question 10

How many traits are there (latest update)

Answer 10

16

Question 11

Today, what is the most ingle tail approach to describing the core domains of personality

Answer 11

Costa and McCrae’s 5 factor model

Question 12

How to behaviourists respond to trait approaches to personality? Why?

Answer 12

Reject them and are skeptical of their ability to predict behaviour. Rather than explaining behaviour in terms of stable characteristics or traits, believe that behaviour is influenced by variables in the environment and that individuals behave differently across different situations

Question 13

What does research tell us about traits and behaviour?

Answer 13

Michel reviewed the relevant research and found that studies consistently showed that behaviour is primarily dependent on situational cues.

Question 14

Talk about temperament and behaviourism

Answer 14

Strong evidence supports the notion of individual temperament. Today, most behaviour therapists acknowledge the importance of stable temperamental characteristics. At the same time, recognize that much of our behaviour varies across situations

Question 15

Classical conditioning

Answer 15

Aka Pavlovian conditioning. A CS comes to signal the occurrence f a second stimulus, a US. A US is typically a stimulus that causes a characteristic response known as a UR. By pairing a US and a CS, a person comes to expect the occurrence of the US whenever exposed to the CS and eventually develops a CR to encountering the CS alone.

Question 16

What can classical conditioning sometimes explain?

Answer 16

Why we experience negative emotions in some situations and positive emotions in others. Also explains why we approach some situations and avoid others

Question 17

Extinction (classical conditioning)

Answer 17

The presentation of the CS in the absence of the US Do that the CR eventually stops occurring. The CS no longer signals the occurrence of the US and therefore stops triggering a response

Question 18

Reinstatement

Answer 18

Subsequent repairing of the US and CS. Then CR returns quickly. Means that extinction doesn’t erase previous learning

Question 19

Operant conditioning

Answer 19

A form of learning in which the frequency, form or strength of behaviour is influenced by it’s consequences

Question 20

Reinforcement

Answer 20

A consequence that causes a behaviour to increase in frequency or intensity

Question 21

2 types of reinforcement

Answer 21

1. Positive

2. Negative

Question 22

Positive reinforcement

Answer 22

Occurs when behaviour is followed by a stimulus that is rewarding.

Question 23

Negative reinforcement

Answer 23

Occurs when a behaviour is followed by the removal of an aversive stimulus (escape)

Question 24

Punishment

Answer 24

Any consequence that causes a behaviour to decrease in frequency or intensity

Question 25

2 types of punishment

Answer 25

1. Positive

2. Negative

Question 26

Positive punishment

Answer 26

Occurs when a behaviour is followed by an aversive consequence

Question 27

Negative punishment

Answer 27

Occurs when a behaviour is followed by the removal of a desired stimulus

Question 28

Extinction (operant conditioning)

Answer 28

Refers to a behaviour that stops occurring because it is no longer followed by a positive consequence

Question 29

Discrimination learning

Answer 29

Occurs when a response is reinforced or punished in one situation but not in another. Can help explain why people behave differently in some situations than others

Question 30

Generalization

Answer 30

Refers to the occurrence of a learned Behavior in situations other than their where the Behavior was acquired

Question 31

Vicarious learning

Answer 31

Aka observational learning. Refers to learning about environmental contingencies by watching the behaviour of others

Question 32

Rule governed behaviour

Answer 32

People can also learn contingencies indirectly through information that they hear or read without ever experiencing the contingencies firsthand. Aka instructional learning

Question 33

Describe behaviour therapy’s theory of personality

Answer 33

All behaviour is learned through association, consequences, observation or rules learned through communication and language. Therapy aims to help clients by providing corrective learning experiences that lead to changes in behaviour. Highly structured and active. Clients expected to do things within the therapy session and for homework. Much of the change that happens in therapy is thought to occur as a result of homework practices completed between sessions

Question 34

The therapeutic relationship in behaviour therapy

Answer 34

Sometimes faulted for ignoring the importance of it. Have not emphasized and some have argued that it is unimportant. Growing lit supporting use of computer administered treatments. But a large body of research says it’s important across all forms of therapy. Even in self help treatments. Challenge in behaviour therapy is to keep clients motivated

Question 35

Describe the format and structure of behaviour therapy

Answer 35

Compared to other therapies, structure is quite diverse. Often consists of individual meetings with therapist but can often be administered in groups or with families or couples. About an hour but can vary. Can occur in therapist’s office but also I’m other settings like schools or places to do exposure. Usually time limited. 10-20 sessions. Outside of the context if research studies, can last longer

Question 36

Ethical issues with Behavior therapy

Answer 36

Common misconception about behaviour therapy is that it is coercive. But these concerns are unfounded. Therapy only likely to be effective when it is conducted in the context of a supportive therapeutic relationship. Depend on clients practicing techniques. Exposure depends on client practicing regularly. sense of perceived control is portent.

Another issue arises is the question of who determines goals for treatment. Client and therapist have to have shared goals

Behavior therapy differs from other forms of therapy in that sessions may include activities other than just talking in the therapist’s office. Important to maintain professional boundaries at all times and for client to fully understand the purpose of the activities being practiced in therapy

Question 37

Mechanisms of behaviour therapy

Answer 37

Traditionally, relied in learning principles to explain the effects of treatment. But now, models based on info processing, emotional processing and cognitive reappraisal have been advanced. Emotional processing theory states that fearful associations become stored in memory in a fear network comprised of a stimulus and response and meaning. Conditioning experiences cause these components to become associated. Exposure to feared situations works by fully activating fear network and incorporating new, corrective info

Question 38

Predictors of improvement in behaviour therapy

Answer 38

Personality disorders, severe depression, more severe anxiety disorder sunroom so more stressful life events, poorer insight into excessiveness of anxiety symptoms, poor motivation, negative patterns of communication among family members, and poor compliance with treatment