behavior therapy

Behavior TherapyBehavior Therapy

Sathish RAJAMANI M.Sc (N)Sathish RAJAMANI M.Sc (N)

LecturerLecturer

AMCONAMCON

Behavior Therapy DefinitionBehavior Therapy Definition

* * The term behavior therapy is The term behavior therapy is applied to psychological applied to psychological treatment based on experimental treatment based on experimental psychology and intended to psychology and intended to change symptoms and behavior.change symptoms and behavior.

ORIGIN OF BEHAVIOUR ORIGIN OF BEHAVIOUR THERAPYTHERAPY

Reward and punishment systems have been used Reward and punishment systems have been used throughout recorded history in an attempt to throughout recorded history in an attempt to influence behavior, from child rearing to the influence behavior, from child rearing to the criminal justice system. criminal justice system.

Modern behavioral therapy began in the 1950s Modern behavioral therapy began in the 1950s with the work of B.F. Skinner and Joseph Wolpe. with the work of B.F. Skinner and Joseph Wolpe. Wolpe treated his patients who suffered Wolpe treated his patients who suffered from phobias with a technique he developed from phobias with a technique he developed called called systematic desensitization

DESENSITIZATIONDESENSITIZATION

Desensitization Desensitization involved gradually involved gradually exposing a patient exposing a patient to an anxiety-to an anxiety-provoking stimuli provoking stimuli until until the anxiety responsthe anxiety response was extinguished, e was extinguished, or eliminatedor eliminated


Identifying Maladaptive Behavior & Seeks to correct Identifying Maladaptive Behavior & Seeks to correct

these by applying the principles of learning derived from these by applying the principles of learning derived from

the following theories.the following theories.

1. Classical Conditioning (Ivan Pavlov, 1936)1. Classical Conditioning (Ivan Pavlov, 1936)

2. Operant Conditioning (BF Skinner, 1953)2. Operant Conditioning (BF Skinner, 1953)

Behavior Therapy TheoriesBehavior Therapy Theories

CLASSICAL CONDITIONINGCLASSICAL CONDITIONING

Classical Conditioning is Classical Conditioning is a term used to describe a term used to describe learning which has been learning which has been acquired through acquired through experience.experience.

Behavior Therapy TheoriesBehavior Therapy Theories

OPERANT CONDITIONINGOPERANT CONDITIONING

Skinner introduced a behavioral technique he Skinner introduced a behavioral technique he called operant conditioning. Operant called operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is based on the idea that an conditioning is based on the idea that an individual will choose his behavior based on individual will choose his behavior based on past experiences of consequences of that past experiences of consequences of that behavior. If a behavior was associated with behavior. If a behavior was associated with positive reinforcements or rewards in the or rewards in the past, the individual will choose it over past, the individual will choose it over behavior associated with punishmentsbehavior associated with punishments

ASSUMPTIONSASSUMPTIONSAll behaviours are learned, (Adaptive & All behaviours are learned, (Adaptive &

Maladaptive).Maladaptive).Human beings are passive organisms that Human beings are passive organisms that

can be conditioned or shaped to do can be conditioned or shaped to do anything.anything.

Maladaptive behavior can be unlearned Maladaptive behavior can be unlearned and replaced by adaptive behavior if the and replaced by adaptive behavior if the person receives exposures to specific stimuli person receives exposures to specific stimuli and reinforcement.and reinforcement.

ASSUMPTIONS Cont……….ASSUMPTIONS Cont……….

Behavior assessment is focused more Behavior assessment is focused more on the current behavior rather than on on the current behavior rather than on historical antecedents.historical antecedents.

Treatment strategies are individually Treatment strategies are individually tailored.tailored.

TECHNIQUESTECHNIQUES

SHAPINGSHAPING MODELINGMODELING PREMACK PRINCIPLEPREMACK PRINCIPLE EXTINCTIONEXTINCTION TOKEN ECONOMYTOKEN ECONOMY CONTIGENCY CONTIGENCY

CONTRACTINGCONTRACTING FLOODINGFLOODING

TIME OUTTIME OUT RECIPROCAL RECIPROCAL

INHIBITIONINHIBITION OVERT OVERT

SENSITIZATIONSENSITIZATION COVERT COVERT

SENSITIZATIONSENSITIZATION SYSTEMATIC SYSTEMATIC

DESENSITIZATIONDESENSITIZATION

SHAPINGSHAPING

Reinforcements are given Reinforcements are given for increasingly closer for increasingly closer approximations to the approximations to the desired response.desired response.

Example: Autistic ChildExample: Autistic Child

MODELINGMODELING

Modeling refers to the learning of new Modeling refers to the learning of new behaviors by imitating the behaviors in behaviors by imitating the behaviors in others.others.

Role ModelsRole ModelsChildren imitate the behaviors of their Children imitate the behaviors of their

parents, teachers and friends.parents, teachers and friends. In therapeutic setting clients imitate the In therapeutic setting clients imitate the

behaviors of their care providers.behaviors of their care providers.

PREMACK PRINCIPLEPREMACK PRINCIPLE

This technique is named after its originatorThis technique is named after its originator..A frequently occurring response (R1) can A frequently occurring response (R1) can

serves as a positive reinforcement for a serves as a positive reinforcement for a response (R2) that occurs less frequently.response (R2) that occurs less frequently.

EXTINCTIONEXTINCTION

It is a gradual decrease in frequency or It is a gradual decrease in frequency or disappearance of response when the disappearance of response when the positive reinforcement is withheld.positive reinforcement is withheld.

Example: Example: Temper Tantrum ChildTemper Tantrum Child

CONTIGENCY CONTRACTINGCONTIGENCY CONTRACTING

A contract is drawn up among all parties involved.A contract is drawn up among all parties involved. The behavior change that is desired is stated explicitly in writing.The behavior change that is desired is stated explicitly in writing. The contract specifies the desired behavior change, the negative consequences or The contract specifies the desired behavior change, the negative consequences or

punishment that will be rendered for not fulfilling the terms of contract are also punishment that will be rendered for not fulfilling the terms of contract are also delineated.delineated.

ted.ted.

TOKEN ECONOMYTOKEN ECONOMY

TE is a type of CC (may or may not a written TE is a type of CC (may or may not a written contract) in which the reinforcer for desired contract) in which the reinforcer for desired behaviors are presented in the form of behaviors are presented in the form of token.token.

Tokens are awarded when desired Tokens are awarded when desired behaviors are performed, and may behaviors are performed, and may exchanged for designated privileges.exchanged for designated privileges.

Example: By using the token, client can buy Example: By using the token, client can buy a cigarettes, or snacksa cigarettes, or snacks..

TIME OUTTIME OUT

Time out is an aversive Time out is an aversive stimulus or punishment during stimulus or punishment during which the client is removed which the client is removed from the environment when the from the environment when the desired behavior is being is desired behavior is being is exhibited.exhibited.

RECIPROCAL INHIBITIONRECIPROCAL INHIBITION

Also called as Counter Conditioning.Also called as Counter Conditioning.Reciprocal Inhibition decreases or Reciprocal Inhibition decreases or

eliminates a behavior by introducing a eliminates a behavior by introducing a more adaptive behavior.more adaptive behavior.

Example: Example: Introduction of relaxation Introduction of relaxation exercises to an individual who is exercises to an individual who is phobic. phobic.

OVERT SENSITIZATIONOVERT SENSITIZATION

It is a type of aversive technique, It is a type of aversive technique, that produces unpleasant response that produces unpleasant response to the undesirable behavior.to the undesirable behavior.

Example: Example: Disulfiram (Antabuse)Disulfiram (Antabuse)

COVERT SENSITIZATIONCOVERT SENSITIZATION

It relies on the individual’s imagination to It relies on the individual’s imagination to produce unpleasant symptoms rather than produce unpleasant symptoms rather than on medication.on medication.

The individual learns, through mental The individual learns, through mental imagery, to visualize nauseating scenes.imagery, to visualize nauseating scenes.

The primary advantage of covert The primary advantage of covert sensitization is that the individual does not sensitization is that the individual does not have to perform undesired behaviors but have to perform undesired behaviors but simply imagines them.simply imagines them.

SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATIONSYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION

It is a technique for assisting It is a technique for assisting individuals to overcome their fear of individuals to overcome their fear of phobic stimulus.phobic stimulus.

It is a “systematic”, in that there is a It is a “systematic”, in that there is a hierarchy of anxiety producing events hierarchy of anxiety producing events through which the individual through which the individual progresses during therapy.progresses during therapy.

SD ExampleSD Example

A hierarchy of events associated with a fear of A hierarchy of events associated with a fear of elevators may be as followselevators may be as follows

1.1. Discuss riding an elevator with the therapistDiscuss riding an elevator with the therapist

2.2. Look at a picture of an elevatorLook at a picture of an elevator

3.3. Walk into the building and see the elevatorWalk into the building and see the elevator

4.4. Push the button for the elevatorPush the button for the elevator

5.5. Walk inside the elevator with the trusted personWalk inside the elevator with the trusted person

6.6. Ride the elevator with trusted personsRide the elevator with trusted persons

7.7. Ride the elevator without trusted personRide the elevator without trusted person

FLOODINGFLOODING

This technique is some times called as This technique is some times called as implosive therapy, used to desensitizes the implosive therapy, used to desensitizes the phobic stimulus. phobic stimulus.

It differs from SD, in that instead of working It differs from SD, in that instead of working up a hierarchy of anxiety producing stimuli, up a hierarchy of anxiety producing stimuli, the individual is flooded with a continuous the individual is flooded with a continuous presentation of the phobic stimulus until it presentation of the phobic stimulus until it no longer elicits .no longer elicits .


LIMITATIONS OF BEHAVIOR THERAPYLIMITATIONS OF BEHAVIOR THERAPYBehavior therapy may change behaviors, Behavior therapy may change behaviors,

but it does not change feelingsbut it does not change feelingsDoes not deal with the emotional process Does not deal with the emotional process

as fully as other approachesas fully as other approachesRelationship between client and therapist Relationship between client and therapist

is discountedis discounted