BEHAVIOR THERAPY MEC 6400 Behavior Therapy No single

BEHAVIOR THERAPY MEC 6400

Behavior Therapy No single person is responsible for the development of behavioral theory of personality. Behavior therapy has it’s roots in experimental psychology and the study of the learning process in humans and animals : Classical Conditioning (respondent conditioning) – Ivan Pavlov ◦ Operant Conditioning– B. F. Skinner ◦ Observational Learning ◦

Behavior Therapy: Early Research Classical Conditioning: Focus on antecedents of behavior (the presentation of the CS before the UCS) UCS (food) UCR (dog’s salivation) CS (sound or light) CR (learned response salivation- to the presentation of the CS) A neutral conditioned stimulus is presented just prior to the unconditioned stimulus. Similar responses then are given (unconditioned response, conditioned response) to the conditioned stimulus. Originator: Ivan Pavlov

Behavior Therapy: Early Research Operant Conditioning: v Focus on antecedents and consequences of overt behavior v Reinforce correct responses v Ignore incorrect responses v Shape behavior by controlling amount, frequency, and conditions under which reinforcement occurs Originators: E. L. Thorndike and B. F. Skinner

Operant Conditioning

Behavior Therapy: Contemporary Research Social cognitive theory (formerly known as social learning theory: Covert behavior, includes role of thoughts and behavior Triadic Reciprocal Interaction System Originator: Albert Bandura

Behavior Therapy: Concepts Derived From Observational Learning: Bandura � Attending to a model � Retaining information about the model � Motor reproduction - Reproducing the behavior of the model � Motivational processes - Repeat reinforced behavior

Goals of Behavior Therapy � Changing target behaviors - ones that can be defined clearly and accurately � Goals preferably arrived at in collaboration with clients by evaluating goals and possible outcomes � Goals for clients who can not choose raise ethical questions

Behavioral Assessment Assessing discrete behaviors and their antecedents and consequences through the use of � Behavioral interviews - specific questions � Behavioral reports and ratings - e. g. , BDI � Behavioral observations - natural or simulated � Physiological measurements - blood pressure, heart rate, respiration

Systematic Desensitization Step 1: Relaxation - Step 2: Anxiety hierarchies - Relax body by learning a variety of relaxation methods a ladder of graded degrees of anxiety using a subjective units of discomfort scale (SUDs). Example: Fear of exams 1. Five minutes before the psychology mid-term (80) 2. Walking to the psychology mid-term (70) 3. Midnight before the psychology mid-term (65) 10. Thinking about last year's math final (20) Step 3: Desensitization Relax the client Present a neutral scene Present scenes of increasing anxiety Relax the client if the client becomes anxious Return to a less anxious scene Continue to move slowly up the hierarchy

Behavior Therapy: Imaginal Flooding Therapy � Develop scenes that are anxiety producing to the client � Repeat the scenes again and again in therapy hour � Rationale: Fear will be extinguished

Behavioral Therapy: Modeling Techniques (Bandura) Types of Modeling Techniques: 1. Live modeling 2. Symbolic modeling 3. Self-modeling 4. Participant modeling 5. Covert modeling

Meichenbaum's Self-Instructional Training � Therapist models appropriate behavior � Client practices behavior � Client repeat's instructions to self � Instructions may be taped � Records of practicing the instructions may be made

Meichenbaum's Stress Inoculation Approach: Self Management Skills � Conceptual phase - Gather information; teach client how to think about problem � Skills acquisition - Teach skill such as relaxation, cognitive restructuring, or selfreinforcement � Application - Rehearse statements, visualize scenes, practice behavior

One last word on Behavior therapies: CBT - The Big Bang Theory