Therapy with Behavioural Experiments

Question 1

What is a behavioural experiment in the context of cognitive therapy?

Answer 1

• A planned experiential activity used to test the validity of beliefs
• and promote new learning to modify maladaptive thoughts

Question 2

What key cognitive therapy principle underlies the use of behavioural experiments?

Answer 2

That thoughts are hypotheses to be tested, not facts.

Question 3

How do behavioural experiments differ from traditional behavioural therapy techniques?

Answer 3

• BT aims to change behaviour directly, while
• BE aim to change beliefs through behaviour.

Question 4

What are the four steps in the behavioural experiment process that align with Kolb’s learning cycle?

Answer 4

• Planning
• experiencing
• observing
• reflecting.

Question 5

What are the two main types of behavioural experiments?

Answer 5

• Experimental (e.g., behavioural tests)
• Observational (e.g., surveys or diaries).

Question 6

What’s the difference between hypothesis-testing and discovery-oriented behavioural experiments?

Answer 6

• Hypothesis-testing seeks to confirm or disprove specific beliefs.
• Discovery-oriented explores new information without a fixed outcome.

Question 7

According to Teasdale’s Interacting Cognitive Subsystems (ICS), which two systems are involved in belief change?

Answer 7

• The propositional (verbal/rational)
• Implicational (emotional/experiential) systems.

Question 8

Why are behavioural experiments often more effective than verbal methods alone, such as thought records?

Answer 8

Because they engage emotional learning and help shift beliefs at a deeper, experiential level.

Question 9

What does Wells’ metacognitive theory suggest must change for therapeutic progress?

Answer 9

Procedural memory (automatic behaviour patterns) must change not just declarative beliefs.

Question 10

Give one reason why some therapists view behavioural experiments as central to CBT.

Answer 10

Because they generate powerful, experiential evidence that can reshape maladaptive beliefs.

Question 11

What kind of processing do behavioural experiments encourage, making them effective learning tools?

Answer 11

• Deep
• Experiential
• Emotional processing (not just rational understanding).

Question 12

Which adult learning theory supports the use of behavioural experiments in therapy?

Answer 12

Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory.