Behavior Therapy Fundamentals

Study Notes

Focuses on present behaviors and thoughts, using the past only to understand the origins of problematic patterns.
Uses learning theory principles to correct faulty behavior and thought patterns.
Tailors techniques to specific symptoms and diagnoses; there isn't a single approach for all clients.

Interviews clients to analyze behavior patterns.
Identifies malfunctioning behaviors, antecedents (causes), and maintaining factors.
Malfunctioning behaviors cause distress; antecedents predispose individuals to these behaviors; maintaining factors perpetuate them.
Example: A smoker's anxiety is the antecedent (trigger), the relief from anxiety is the maintaining factor (reinforcement).

Aims to extinguish faulty behaviors and replace them with adaptive ones.
Uses antecedent operations (changing what precedes a behavior) and consequent operations (changing what follows).
Antecedent example: Decreasing snacks to increase hunger and thus the reinforcing value of dinner.
Consequent example: Praising a child for eating dinner encourages that behavior.

Reduce arousal levels.
Employ classical and operant conditioning with varied reinforcement contingencies.
Use vicarious learning (learning by observation).
Negative reinforcement involves removing unpleasant stimuli to increase desired behaviors (e.g., putting on warm clothes to avoid cold).
Aversive conditioning pairs undesired responses with aversive consequences (e.g., associating alcohol with electric shock to reduce drinking).
Positive reinforcement is used to increase the frequency of adaptive behaviors.