Cognitive Behavior Management

Question 1

What are Cognitive Behaviors? Examples-

Answer 1

Covert behaviors- Verbal or Imaginal responses that are covert, not observable to others.

Thoughts or self-statements that elicit a particular behavior in an individual. These thoughts could lead to autonomic arousal which then may lead to aggressive behaviors.

E.g. - Guy is a jerk to you/someone you care about. “This guy is an asshole, he can’t just say that” - autonomically angering you, which may lead to a round of fisticuffs.

Question 2

Identify and briefly describe the two general categories of cognitive behavior modification procedures.

Answer 2

Cognitive Restructuring- designed to replace specific maladaptive cognitive behaviors with more adaptive ones.

• Three basic steps:
• Identify the distressing Thoughts/Situations.
• Identify the emotional Response, unpleasant mood, or problem behavior that Follows the thought.
• Think more Rational/Desirable thoughts.

Cognitive Coping Skills Training- Therapist teaches clients specific self-statements that they can make in a problem situation to improve either their performance or the situation.

• Three basic steps:
• Identify the pb
• Identify the self-instructions
• Use behavioral skill straining to teach the self-instructions (must include role-play to generalize)

Question 3

What is the goal of Cognitive Restructuring?

Answer 3

Restructure ones covert responses, thoughts, with more beneficial, less problematic thoughts; or just eliminate the negative thoughts all together.

Question 4

Name two types of problems for which self-instructional training has been used successfully-

Answer 4

Patients with schizophrenia & control impulsive behavior.

Question 5

What is the goal of Acceptance & Commitment therapy? How does it differ from the goal of cognitive behavior modification procedures?

Answer 5

The goal is to learn to Accept that they have No Control over their thoughts/feelings - when they learn to accept them, the thoughts/feelings lose their ability to disrupt the individuals life.

• Cognitive behavior modification procedures work at gaining control over ones negative thoughts/behaviors.