Transcript 2Behavioral Conditioning

Treatment Components
Behavioral Reconditioning
Anna C. Salter
Behavioral Reconditioning
Easy to Do Wrong
Hard to Do Right
(Steve Jenson, personal communication 11/30/09)
Behavioral Principles: 1
Don’t let person become highly aroused
Use minimal arousal conditioning
Being highly aroused is reinforcing
(Steve Jenson, personal communication 11/30/09)
Two Components to Deviance
 Sexual
urge
 Cognitions
that support it
(Steve Jenson, personal communication 11/30/09)
Normal and Deviant

Normal
Deviant

Some urges
Controlled by
cognition
Intense & frequent
urges supported
by deviant
cognitions
Minimal Arousal Conditioning
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Aversive conditioning
Minimizing victim contact
Dealing with spontaneous arousal
Cognitive restructuring
Peer relationships
Minimal Arousal Conditioning
Punish at first signs of minimal arousal
Do not wait
Until full arousal
Instructions
“We would like you to write a two to three page
description of one of the most exciting sexual
encounters you had with your victim. The
description should include: a) where you were,
b) how you approached your victim, c) how
you got your victim to cooperate, d) what you
did sexually, e) how your victim responded,
(what did they say or do) and f) how the sexual
contact concluded.”
(Jensen 2002, p. 2)
1) Aversive Conditioning

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At home
Every day for 12 weeks
Ammonia simplest
Wide mouth jar
Lid on
Read scenario to point of first arousal
(well before sexual behavior)
Open jar – close enough for startle
Repeat 20 times
Every day 12 weeks
If Working
Dramatic reduction
2 weeks
(Steve Jensen, personal communication, 11/30/09)
1) Covert Sensitization

Two to three weeks after starting

No irrational punishers

Develop 10 to 20 punishers
“My wife walks in . . . “
“I’m at work and the police come to
arrest me. . .”
Where and When
Aversive Conditioning
& Covert Sensitization
In the morning
Place that is private, comfortable
Rate their arousal as they do it from 1-10

“Write a two to three page description of
any other deviant behavior or fantasies not
previously represented.”

Write a list of at least 10 consequences of
your sexual behavior to your victim.”

Write a list of at least 10 consequences of
your sexual behavior to your victim and
others.”

“Write a list of at least 10 consequences to
you if you were to reoffend.”

“Write a list of all the reasons that you
used to make it OK to sexual abuse your
victim.”
(Jensen, 2002, p. 2)
Combining Techniques

After arousal is controlled by aversive

10 repetitions of aversive
Read 10 different consequences to the victim
10 repetitions of aversive
Read 10 different consequences to self
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Time Line

Takes 8 to 10 weeks to develop clear lists
of faulty cognitions (risky thinking)
1) Covert Sensitization

After 2 months make a decision – working
or not?

If not working, ammonia every other day
and slowly reduce
1) Covert Sensitization

If doesn’t work, use maintenance
ammonia – 10 repetitions a month

If fantasies more than once a month, go
back to aversive
Behavioral Principles: 2
Aversive conditioning = phobic response
Being around victim ages will desensitize
(Steve Jenson, personal communication 11/30/09)
Behavioral Principles: 2
Do not permit nonaversive contact with
victim ages
Exit situations with victim ages
Could not be in home with victims
(Steve Jenson, personal communication 11/30/09)
Behavioral Principles: 2
Nonaversive contact is re-enforcing
Punishment or aversive conditioning
Only works
If consistent
(Steve Jenson, personal communication 11/30/09)
Behavioral Principle:2
Single arousal or deviant masturbation
Can undo
Months of work
(Steve Jenson, personal communication 11/30/09)
2) Minimize Contact with
Sources of Arousal
 No
going to places where victims
congregate
 Hanging
 Playing
 Living
around kids sports, etc.
with victims
in home if victims there
(Steve Jensen, personal communication, 11/30/09)
3) Dealing with Spontaneous
Arousal
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Whenever begins to have inappropriate
sexual thoughts
Punish within 10 seconds – Ammonia wipes
Remove from situation
Before sexual arousal
Report to support person
Had this encounter
Recognized it
This is how I handled it
4) Cognitive Restructuring
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Not enough to look at consequences
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Above works for “dumb decision”
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Doesn’t work for deeply held beliefs
What Does Work

Deep relaxation (similar to hypnosis) – tapes
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Generate as many faulty cognitions as
possible – may have 50 excuses
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Pick 10 to 20
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Identify why they are faulty
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Write out appropriate responses
Appropriate Responses

3 to 6 words
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Faulty Cognition: “Some children really
enjoy sex with older kids.”
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Counter: “It’s hurtful for young kids to
have sex with older kids.”
4) Cognitive Restructuring
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Add appropriate response to tape
“There are some thoughts I want to
change about myself.”
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Do not record faulty responses
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Every day play tapes – 3 to 4 months
4) Cognitive Restructuring
Universal Cognitive Distortions
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“I won’t get caught.”
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“It really doesn’t do any harm.”
Plethysmograph

Used to monitor change or no change