Behavioral Therapy

Question 1

Founders:

Answer 1

B.F. Skinner & John Watson

Question 2

Underpinnings

Answer 2

●Behaviors, both dysfunctional and functional, are learned responses involuntarily acquired and reinforced.
●The environment creates two types of situations for an individual to determine their behavior on: positive or negative.

Question 3

Theory of Change

Answer 3

●Change occurs through reinforcements and punishment

Question 4

Role of the Therapist

Answer 4

●Feelings and the client’s history are not a main focus of treatment.
●The therapist focuses on identifying maladaptive behaviors as well as what causes and reinforces these behaviors.

Question 5

Main Concepts

Answer 5

●Positive reinforcement (Reinforcement)
●Negative reinforcement (Escape)
●Positive punishment (Punishment)
●Negative punishment (Penalty)
●Token Economy (Contingency Management)
●Shaping

Question 6

Treatment Goals

Answer 6

●Identify the problem, monitor behavior, reinforce desired behavior.
●Time limited and symptom focused.
●Problem or target must be concrete and measurable.
●A baseline of target behavior is found and consequences/preceding events of that behavior are addressed.

Question 7

Interventions

Answer 7

●Social skills and assertiveness training.
●Self-control exercises (biofeedback and muscle relaxation).
●Performance-based techniques that are utilized outside of therapy.
●Positive-reinforcement
●Token Economy (frequently used with children): Rewards (such as a star) are given for desired behaviors. Once enough rewards are gained the child can trade the rewardsin for a reinforcement (such as an outing for ice cream).