Cognition: Behaviour Modification Techniques

Question 1

Define: Behaviour Modification

Answer 1

Application of classical and operant conditioning techniques to human behaviour and learning.

Uses reinforcement and punishment to alter undesirable behaviours and strengthen desirable ones.

Question 2

Define: Behaviour Therapy

Answer 2

Can be used to treat psychological problems, such as fears or phobias. Builds on principles of conditioning to alter the individual’s environment and how the individual interacts with that environment.

Question 3

Reinforcement

Answer 3

Any consequence that strengthens behaviour and causes it to occur more frequently.

Question 4

Positive reinforcement

Answer 4

Behaviour followed by pleasant reward/outcome

Response/behaviour strengthened by addition of praise or direct reward.

Question 5

Negative reinforcement

Answer 5

Behaviour followed by removal of an unpleasant outcome

Response strengthened by removing something considered unpleasant.

Question 6

Punishment

Answer 6

Consequence that causes behaviour to occur less frequently

Presentation of an adverse event or outcome.

Question 7

Positive punishment

Answer 7

Punishment by application

Addition of unpleasant consequence.

Question 8

Negative punishment

Answer 8

Punishment by removal

Removal of pleasant stimulus/favourable outcome.

Question 9

Define: Token economies

Advantages

Disadvantages

Answer 9

Artificial systems of reward and reinforcement where symbolic markers used to reward behaviours. These markers can then be exchanged for something more tangible, such as goods and privileges

Rewarding desirable behaviour > punishing undesirable behaviour

◦ Individual never gets ‘full’
○ More effective than simple reinforcement schemes

○ Difficult to maintain improvement in behaviour once individual has left institution

Question 10

Systematic desensitisation

Process

Advantages

Disadvantages

Answer 10

Application of classical conditioning to fears and phobias in humans.

Fear response produced by the individual replaced with more relaxed response.

Effectively reverses learning of conditional behaviour.

Process:

1) Relaxation techniques - fear and relaxation incompatible
2) Fear hierarchy
3) Graded exposure - works way up list while practising relaxation techniques until comfortable progressing

Question 11

Systematic Desensitisation: Advantages

Answer 11

1) Progressive structure => likely to continue

2) Simple process => can be self-guided

Question 12

Systematic Desensitisation: Disadvantages

Answer 12

1) Individual differences in effectiveness => trouble producing mental images
2) Only treats observable symptoms

Question 13

Graded exposure

Answer 13

Use of situations of increasing intensity to assist people to overcome fears and phobias.

Question 14

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Components

Answer 14

Technique used by psychologists, based on assumption that cognitions influence feelings and behaviours and that subsequent behaviours and emotions influence thoughts.

Behavioural: therapist helps change behaviour -behaviour modification, relaxation and other behavioural change techniques.

Cognitive: based on theory that distressing emotions and behaviours are the result of maladaptive thinking. Dysfunctional thoughts replaced with manageable ones.

Question 15

Core principles

Answer 15

1) Here-and-now: not cause or source.
2) Active participation: client helps set goals, determine agenda for each session, and completes assignments between sessions.
3) Educational model: empower client to better manage problems, work on strategies to identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and planning exercises for behavioural change.
4) Problem-focused and goal-oriented: determine problems to be addressed and translate into specific goals.
5) Time-limited: create change within fixed time period.

Question 16

CBT and Depression

Answer 16

1) Identify and change negative thinking associated with depressed feelings: look at situations from another angle and learn how to replace negative thought patterns with positive ones.
2) Focus on positive: gradually increase fun in life and positive steps you are taking.
3) Manage problems: strategies for managing small and large problems so they don’t build up.