Clinical Psychology Lecture 7: Behavioral Models

Lecture 7: Basic Theoretical Models of Human Functioning in Clinical Psychology Part II

• This lecture covers basic theoretical models used in clinical psychology, focusing on the behavioral model.
• The behavioral model emphasizes learned behaviors and experiences as determinants of mental health and disorders.
• It doesn't focus on the mind or inner thoughts and feelings.
• Behavior is seen as learned through interactions with the environment.

Behavioral Model

• The behavioral model has three major components: classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning.
• All behavior is learned. Mental disorders are explained by experiences, not inherited dispositions.

Classical Conditioning

• Learning occurs through temporal association.

• When two events repeatedly occur close together in time, they become linked in the mind.

• A neutral stimulus (CS) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that naturally produces a response (UCR).

• Over time, the neutral stimulus (CS) alone becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) and evokes a conditioned response (CR).

• Examples include developing a fear of doctors, dentists, or shopping malls due to a past negative experience.

• Steps in classical conditioning:

  • Unconditioned stimulus (UCS) triggers an unconditioned response (UCR)
  • Conditioned stimulus (CS) initially does not trigger a response
  • CS and UCS are repeatedly paired
  • CS eventually triggers a conditioned response (CR)

• Techniques based on classical conditioning include exposure therapy, systematic desensitization, and assertiveness training.

Operant Conditioning

• Operant conditioning focuses on how consequences shape behaviors.

• Behaviors followed by desirable consequences are more likely to be repeated.

• Behaviors followed by undesirable consequences are less likely to be repeated.

• Reinforcers increase the likelihood of a behavior.

  • Positive reinforcement: adding a desirable stimulus
  • Negative reinforcement: removing an undesirable stimulus

• Punishments decrease the likelihood of a behavior.

  • Positive punishment: adding an undesirable stimulus
  • Negative punishment: removing a desirable stimulus

• Extinction (omission training) involves removing a positive reinforcer to decrease a behavior.

• Examples include a child receiving praise for good behavior, a student avoiding a task to avoid punishment, or a person feeling anxious due to the lack of reward.

• Operant conditioning is applicable in explaining depression as a result of passive, repetitive unrewarding behavior or feelings of helplessness.

• Techniques based on operant conditioning include contingency management, aversion therapy, applied behavior analysis (ABA), token economies, shaping, and behavioral activation.

Observational Learning (Social Learning Theory)

• Learning can occur by observing others.

• Individuals learn about the consequences of behavior through indirect reinforcement (observe role models).

• This involves observing role models, and learning about the consequences of their behaviors.

• This stored information becomes an expectancy of future outcomes.

• Observation may lead to learning, but performance depends on other factors (skills, rewards/punishments).

• Example: a child imitating aggressive behavior learned from peers, or a person learning assertiveness techniques from observing someone else.

Learned Helplessness

• In animal learning studies, learned helplessness, a model of depression, has been observed, where negative, uncontrollable events lead to a decrease in motivation to escape further negative events.

• Individuals exposed to uncontrollable negative circumstances may have difficulty escaping subsequent negative events, regardless of controllability.

• Abramson and Seligman (1978) developed the attribution theory in relation to learned helplessness in humans.

Behavioral Factors in Depression

• Positive behaviors may be quickly extinguished without self-reinforcement.
• The patient should demonstrate positive behaviors before experiencing feeling better.
• Depression can result from a lack of positive behavior, behaviors that have become less rewarding, or failure to use self-rewards. Other potential behavioral factors in depression include self-punishment, skills deficits, and exposure to aversive situations.

Behavioral Activation

• A meaningful life is one filled with diverse positive reinforcement.
• Help patients increase activities connected to positive reinforcement to combat avoidance and overcome obstacles to achieving their goals.