Historical Background of CBT

Question 1

What are the foundations of modern day Behavior Therapy?

Answer 1

Classical Conditioning by Pavlov

• behaviours are simply elicited
• Generalization
• Extinction

Law of effect by Thorndike
- Behaviour’s consequences influence its recurrence

Operant Conditioning by BF Skinner

• Rewards and Punishment
• behaviours are shaped by consequences

Around 1960, learning principles were applied in Behavior Therapy

Question 2

What is the historical background of cognitive therapy?

Answer 2

Start in 70s to 80s

Bandura’s Social Learning Theory

• Reciprocal determinism of behaviour, cognition, and environment
• Person’s sense of efficacy in this system determines whether behaviour occurs

Accompanied by the Cognitive Revolution

• non-observable & non-manipulable constructs were incorporated in theories of abnormal behaviour
• Cognitive therapies looked at interpretation and view of the world and self
• identifying the idiosyncratic way of thinking & modifying it

Question 3

What distinguishes the third-wave cognitive-behavioural therapies?

Answer 3

Theoretical Shift towards Phenomena that have received less attention
- Language, Emotion, Mindfulness & Acceptance
- More emphasis on contexts in which behaviour occurs instead of directly altering physical environment or behaviour, e.g. detachment in mindfulness
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Question 4

What theoretical differences are there between Behaviour Therapy and other schools of thought?

Answer 4

• Behaviour Therapy places the emphasis on the environment as determinant of behaviour rather than on the internal thoughts or emotions
• Behaviorism is based on the principle of functionality: there is a selection pressure for behaviours to be adaptive and those that fulfill a function will remain
• The three-term contingency (antecedent, behaviour, consequence) is often used as a basic guideline for therapy