Behavior Therapy

Founded By:

B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)



Albert Bandura (b.1925)



 Arnold A. Lazarus (b. 1932)

 

 Key Concepts:

*Behavior therapy is based on the scientific method; "In short, behavioral concepts and procedures are stated explicitly, tested empirically within a conceptual framework, and revised continually" (Corey p. 251).
*Behavior is not limited to action that can be observed but is also the cognitions, images, beliefs, and emotions of the person. 
*Deals with the client's current problems and their influencing factors but does not look to the client's past for determinants of the current problems. Instead the therapist looks at current environmental events that maintain the client's problems. "Behavior therapy recognizes the importance of the individual, the individual's environment, and the interaction between teh person and the environment in facilitating change" (Corey p. 251).
*Clients are expected to take an active role and take actions to deal with their problems.  Clients do not just talk about their problems but are expected to "do" something to change their problems. 
*Behavior therapy assumes that change can occur without understanding the origin of the psychological problem. 
*"Assessment is an ongoing process of observation and self-monitoring that focuses on the current determinants of behavior, including identifying the problem and evaluating the change; assessment informs the treatment process" (Corey p. 251). The therapist also assesses the client's culture. The interventions are also assessed to determine if a change in behavior was a result of the interventions. 
*"Behavioral treatment interventions are individually tailored to specific problems experienced by the client" (Corey p. 252). Multiple techniques may be used to treat a client's problems. 

Therapeutic Goals:

*"The general goals of behavior therapy are to increase personal choice and to create new conditions for learning" (Corey p. 252).
*At the beginning of the therapy process the client sets specific treatment goals.
*"Although assessment and treatment occur together, a formal assessment takes place prior to treatment to determine behaviors that are targets of change" (Corey p. 252).  Assessment continues throughout the therapy process to determine if progress is being made toward the treatment goals.
*Functional assessment or behavioral analysis- "To identify the maintaining conditions by systematically gathering information about situational antecedents, the dimensions of the problem behavior, and the consequences of the problem" (Corey p. 252). This is also known as the ABC model. 

Techniques:

*Operant Conditioning
     *"Positive reinforcement involves the addition of something of value to the individual as a
     consequence of certain behavior" (Corey p. 256).
     *"Negative reinforcement involves the escape from or the avoidance of aversive (unpleasant)
     stimuli. The individual is motivated to exhibit a desired behavior to avoid the unpleasant
     condition" (Corey p. 256).
     *Extinction is "...withholding reinforcement from a previously reinforced response" (Corey p.
     256).
     *Punishment or aversive control- Refers to the consequences of a behavior resulting in that
     behavior decreasing.
     *Positive punishment- Aversive stimuli added after behavior to decrease the frequency of the
     behavior.
     *Negative punishment- Stimuli is removed after behavior to decrease the frequency of the
     behavior. 
*Progressive muscle relaxation- Client aims to achieve both muscle and mental relaxation.
*Systematic desensitization- "Clients imagine successively more anxiety-arousing situations at the same time that they engage in a behavior that competes with anxiety. Gradually, or systematically, clients become less sensitive (desensitized) to the anxiety-arousing situation" (Corey pp. 258-259).
*"Exposure therapies are designed to treat fears and other negative emotional responses by introducing clients, under carefully controlled conditions, to the situations that contributed to such problems" (Corey p. 260).
     *In vivo exposure refers to exposure to the actual event rather than just imagining the anxiety-
     evoking event.
     *Flooding refers to intense exposure for a prolonged amount of time whether the exposure is
     actual or imagined.
     *Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) refers to the process that involves
     assessment and preparation, imaginal flooding, and cognitive restructuring to treat individuals
     with traumatic memories.  Rapid rythmic eye movement as well as other bilateral stimulation
     is used to treat clients who have experience traumatic stress.  There is controversy over whether it
     is the eye movements themselves or the cognitive techniques that are used with the eye
     movements that are responsible for the change that is seen in clients being treated.   
*"Social skills training is a broad category that deals with an individual's ability to interact effectively with others in various social situations; it is used to help clients develop and achieve skills in interpersonal competence" (Corey p. 263).
     *Assertion training- Used to teach people how to be assertive in various social situations.  People
     have the right but are not required or obligated to express themselves.   
*Self-management programs and Self-directed behavior
     *"Self-management strategies include self-monitoring, self-reward, self-contracting, and stimulus
     control" (Corey p. 265). 
*Multimodal therapy- "The essence of Lazarus's multimodal approach is the premise that the complex personality of human beings can be divided into seven major areas of functioning: B= behavior; A= affective responses; S= sensations; I= images; C= cognitions; I= interpersonal relationships; and D= drugs, biological functions, nutrition, and exercise" (Corey pp. 266-267).

Behaviour	Stays in bed stays home - minimal contact with friends and family Do little	Specific behavioural goals Increase contact and time with others Activity scheduling
Affect	Depressed, sad Guilt feelings	Explore triggers and associated thoughts Encourage positive activity (mastery and pleasure)
Sensation	Tiredness	Relaxation Listening to inspiring music
Imagery	Poor self-image, recurring images of past events and possible future problems	Confidence & coping imagery
Cognition	Negative filter Self-critical thoughts	Challenge unhelpful thoughts and thinking styles Distancing & Refocus of attention
Interpersonal	Passive behaviour Avoids social contact	Assertiveness Increase social contact, social skills
Drugs / biology	Takes anti-depressants Uses alcohol to feel better sometimes No physical exercise	Monitor and reduce alcohol use Increase physical activity

References

Corey, G. (2013). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

revistaescola.abril.com.br "B.F. Skinner"

news.stanford.edu "Albert Bandura"

thelazarusinstitute.com "Arnold Lazarus"

get.gg/mmt.html "BASIC ID"