Behavioral Theories and Models

Behavior therapy is not a single approach to treating maladaptive behavior but a collection of diverse approaches used to decrease maladaptive behavior and increase more adaptive or sustainable forms of personal and social behaviors. Although the various behavior therapies differ, they share in common several characteristics, most importantly an in-depth investigation and emphasis on current behaviors and a scientific approach to the study and treatment of maladaptive behaviors.

Unlike psychodynamic psychotherapies, behavioral therapies reject the premise that a maladaptive behavior is symptomatic of underlying pathology (unconscious conflicts or repressed emotions), considering symptom substitution a rarity and regard the behavior itself as the psychological disturbance, reinforcing the primary goal: the elimination of the current maladaptive behavior.

Use Of Scientific Approach and Key Concepts

The scientific assessment focuses on the individual client and emphasizes a detailed study of observable behaviors. It views behavior as both situationally specific and multidimensional, composed of motor, verbal and/or physiological responses, and seeks to identify the behaviors that are to be the targets of treatment, and to evaluate the intervention’s effectiveness. In the beginning of treatment the therapist uses what is called “functional analysis” to clarify the nature of the target behavior, including the stimuli that precede the behavior and the consequences that maintain it. Assessment techniques include naturalistic observation, interviews, self-monitoring, role-playing, rating scales, and physiological measures.

Key Concepts

Classical Conditioning . Associated with Ivan Pavlov as a type of learning using a neutral conditioned stimuli repeatedly( I call your name), with an unconditioned one (I give you candy), that naturally causes a reaction, known as an unconditioned response ( you reach out for the candy) so that the neutral stimulus alone eventually elicits the response naturally (I don’t have to call your name), I show you the candy and you respond.
Operant Conditioning. Associated with B.F.Skinner, is a type of learning in which behaviors are increased or decreased as the result of the consequences that follow them.
Positive Reinforcement. In operant conditioning is a stimulus contingent of the performance of a response in order to increase the likelihood that the response will occur again (I ask that you help me in the kitchen after school and I assure you that you will use my car for a Saturday night date).
Negative Reinforcement. In the context of operant conditioning, the terms positive and negative reinforcement are not synonyms for good or bad or pleasant or unpleasant; positive refers to the application of a stimulus, negative refers to withholding or removing a stimulus (I release you from kitchen duty so you may have more time to study for exams).
Positive and Negative Punishment. Associated with operant conditioning, positive punishment is applying a stimulant contingent on the performance of a behavior to decrease the likelihood that the behavior will increase again (I sell your sports car and replace the car with a four cylinder sedan to keep you from racing ), negative punishment involves withdrawing a stimulus contingent on the performance of a behavior in order to decrease the behavior (I sell your sports car and remove your drivers license to keep you from being arrested for speeding).
Classical and Operant Extinction. Operant extinction involves the gradual elimination of a previously reinforced response through the consistent withholding of reinforcement following that response. (You say good morning and I respond and for years you were reinforced by my response but over a period of time I stopped responding and finally you stopped saying good morning).
Social (Observational) Learning. Observational learning reflects an alteration in cognition, proposing a person can simply observe another person (a model) perform a behavior and display that behavior without external reinforcement; i.e. he or she can acquire the behavior through social influences and by imitation and emulating others (I observe, imitate and emulate the body language and manner of presentation of my Guru and in time I learn to behave like him).

The Role Of The Therapist

The therapist focuses on changing maladaptive behavior, observing the individual’s conditional responses and reactions to stimuli and after a through behavioral assessment has been done, the therapist carefully chooses interventions to fit specific behaviors. In pure behavioral therapy, the intervention is focused purely on the targeted behavior. When possible, the interventions are applied in the client’s natural settings and includes the involvement of his or her significant others, since the most effective reinforcers and punishments are usually provided by significant others (family members). During the course of treatment, if an intervention is ineffective it will be changed, as complete cooperation between client and therapist during the course of therapy will expatiate the correction of maladaptive behavior.