Behavioral and Cognitive Behavior Theories

Behavior Therapy

• Focuses on overt, observable behavior
• Most procedures and techniques are short-term in nature
• Importance of establishing clear goals stated in behavioral terms
• Shortcomings: disregards feelings and emotions, ignores historical factors, minimizes the use of insight in counseling

Cognitive Behavior Theories

• Focuses on the role of cognition and behavior in psychological functioning and well-being
• Includes theories such as Rational Emotive Behavior (REBT), Cognitive Therapy, and Reality Therapy

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

• Developed by Albert Ellis in the 1950s and 1960s
• Humans can be rational or irrational, with rational thoughts promoting happiness and survival, and irrational thoughts inhibiting happiness and survival
• Types of irrational thoughts:
  • Should, must, ought
  • Self-damnation
  • I-can't-stand-it-it is
  • Awfulizing

Guided Imagery and Behavior Change

• Example: improving a golf game through detailed imagination
• Power of the mind can lead to improvement

A-B-C-D-E Model of REBT Therapy

• A: Activating event or adversity
• B: Beliefs about event and adversity
• C: Emotional consequences
• D: Disputations to challenge irrational beliefs
• E: Effective new beliefs replace the irrational ones

REBT Therapy Process

• Counselors must be careful not to focus only on client sentences and self-statements, but to explore and dispute self-defeating meanings, evaluations, images, and other forms of cognitions
• Primary goal is to restructure client self-defeating cognitions and help them acquire a more realistic philosophy of life
• The process of therapy is educational and confrontational in nature

Evaluation of REBT

• Research indicates REBT is superior to no therapy at all and comparable to other CBTs
• Multicultural issues: may be inappropriate if the client's culture values absolute thinking, and values "rational thoughts" instead of intuition