Transcript Behavior Therapy

Behavior Therapy
Chapter 5
The Case of Shirley
75-year-old widowed Caucasian female
Court referred for therapy due to shoplifting
charges
Complains of recurrent obsessive thoughts
about stealing
Not optimistic about therapy
Basic Philosophy
Neutral view of human nature
Emphasis on behavioral descriptions
Human Motivation
Primary motivation for humans is survival
Behavior enables humans to get things
that facilitate survival
Central Constructs
Classical Conditioning
Unconditioned stimulus (anxiety)
Unconditioned response (sweating &
shaking)
Conditioned stimulus (snake)
Conditioned response (sweating &
shaking)
Central Constructs
Operant Conditioning
Reinforcers
Positive
Amy’s mother gives her a sticker when
Amy finishes her homework
Negative
Amy’s mother lets Amy keep playing
because it stops her tantrum
Central Constructs
Observational Learning
Humans learn by watching another
person perform a task and then
modeling that person’s behavior
Theory of the Person
Primary interest is how a person has
learned different behaviors
No interest in personality theory
No interest in developmental stages
Psychological Health and
Dysfunction
Psychological
Health
Classical Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
Observational
Learning
Psychological
Dysfunction
Classical Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
Observational
Learning
Nature of Therapy
Assessment
Direct Observation
Client Interview
Behavior Logs
Symptom Checklists
Nature of Therapy
Role of the client
Co-therapist
Learns from the
counselor
Role of the counselor
Consultant
Provides a model for
the client
Nature of Therapy
Goals of therapy
Increase adaptive behaviors
Decrease maladaptive behaviors
Process of Therapy
Assessment
Intervention
Goals of initial session
Counselor and client
Establishment of the
determine target
working alliance
behaviors to focus on
Identify target behaviors
Counselor forms
Gather information about
hypotheses about what
what maintains the
is maintaining the
target behaviors
client’s current
Teach the client about
problematic behavior(s)
behavior therapy
Therapeutic Techniques
Relaxation Training
Flooding
Simple Exposure and Response Prevention
Systematic Desensitization
Aversive Techniques
Blow-up Technique
Shaping
Reinforcement
Therapeutic Techniques
Differential Reinforcement
Extinction
Punishment
Assertiveness Training
Stimulus Control
Covert Conditioning
Modeling
Behavioral Self-Control
Evaluation
Qualities
Precision
Testability
Empirical validity
Research Support
Outcome research
Theory-testing research
Issues of Individual and
Cultural Diversity
Pros
Structure
Collaborative nature of
counselor/client
relationship
Focus on the present
Active, directive, and
problem focused
Learning is a function of
environmental factors
Cons
Relatively informal
approach is used
Interventions target the
individual’s behavior
No consideration for
sociopolitical factors
Approach to behavior is
based on White,
Male, European
Values