Behaviour Therapy Flashcards
Name the features that characterize behaviour therapy in all of it’s forms
- Focuses on changing behaviour
- Is rooted in empiricism
- Behaviours are assumed to have a function
- Emphasizes maintaining factors rather than the factors that may have initially triggered the problem
- Supported by research
- Is active and directive
- Is transparent
How do behaviour therapists define the word behaviour
Broadly, to include motor behaviours, physiological responses, emotions and cognitions
Behaviour therapy vs cognitive therapy
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.
Behaviour therapy vs psychoanalysis
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)
Behaviour therapy vs client centred psychotherapyb
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
Behaviour therapy vs Adlerian therapy
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
Behaviour therapy vs gestalt therapy
Gestalt uses some behavioural strategies like role plays and strategies where clients experience their emotions and feelings rather than trying to control them.
Behaviour therapy vs interpersonal therapy
Brief, highly structured, includes some behavioural strategies like social skills training.
Behaviour therapy vs family therapy
Behaviour therapy can be administered in a family context (behavioural family therapy)
What do trait theories assume
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
How many traits are there (latest update)
16
Today, what is the most ingle tail approach to describing the core domains of personality
Costa and McCrae’s 5 factor model
How to behaviourists respond to trait approaches to personality? Why?
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
What does research tell us about traits and behaviour?
Michel reviewed the relevant research and found that studies consistently showed that behaviour is primarily dependent on situational cues.
Talk about temperament and behaviourism
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
Classical conditioning
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.
What can classical conditioning sometimes explain?
Why we experience negative emotions in some situations and positive emotions in others. Also explains why we approach some situations and avoid others
Extinction (classical conditioning)
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
Reinstatement
Subsequent repairing of the US and CS. Then CR returns quickly. Means that extinction doesn’t erase previous learning
Operant conditioning
A form of learning in which the frequency, form or strength of behaviour is influenced by it’s consequences
Reinforcement
A consequence that causes a behaviour to increase in frequency or intensity
2 types of reinforcement
- Positive
2. Negative
Positive reinforcement
Occurs when behaviour is followed by a stimulus that is rewarding.
Negative reinforcement
Occurs when a behaviour is followed by the removal of an aversive stimulus (escape)
Punishment
Any consequence that causes a behaviour to decrease in frequency or intensity
2 types of punishment
- Positive
2. Negative
Positive punishment
Occurs when a behaviour is followed by an aversive consequence
Negative punishment
Occurs when a behaviour is followed by the removal of a desired stimulus
Extinction (operant conditioning)
Refers to a behaviour that stops occurring because it is no longer followed by a positive consequence
Discrimination learning
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
Generalization
Refers to the occurrence of a learned Behavior in situations other than their where the Behavior was acquired
Vicarious learning
Aka observational learning. Refers to learning about environmental contingencies by watching the behaviour of others
Rule governed behaviour
People can also learn contingencies indirectly through information that they hear or read without ever experiencing the contingencies firsthand. Aka instructional learning
Describe behaviour therapy’s theory of personality
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
The therapeutic relationship in behaviour therapy
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
Describe the format and structure of behaviour therapy
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
Ethical issues with Behavior therapy
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
Mechanisms of behaviour therapy
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
Predictors of improvement in behaviour therapy
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
