Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Fundamentals

Vocabulary-style flashcards based on lecture notes covering Behavioral Therapy, REBT, CBT, and Cognitive Behavior Modification.

Behavioral Therapy

A form of therapy based on the idea that behavior is learned from the environment; it focuses on present behavior rather than childhood experiences.

Classical Conditioning (Pavlov)

Learning that occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a natural stimulus and produces a conditioned response.

Acquisition

A process in classical conditioning where the stimulus and response are initially linked.

Extinction (Classical Conditioning)

The process by which a conditioned response decreases and eventually disappears.

Generalization

A process in conditioning where an individual responds to different but similar stimuli in the same way.

Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between a specific conditioned stimulus and other stimuli.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a learned response after it has undergone extinction.

Systematic Desensitization

A behavioral therapy technique used to treat phobias by pairing relaxation with gradual exposure.

Exposure Therapy

A behavioral technique where patients face feared situations or stimuli gradually.

Aversion Therapy

A technique that involves pairing an unwanted behavior with an unpleasant stimulus to decrease the behavior.

Operant Conditioning (Skinner)

A learning theory stating that behavior is shaped by its consequences.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding something pleasant to increase a specific behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing something unpleasant to increase a specific behavior.

Positive Punishment

Adding something unpleasant to decrease a specific behavior.

Negative Punishment

Removing something pleasant to decrease a specific behavior.

Extinction (Operant Conditioning)

The decrease in behavior that occurs when reinforcement is stopped.

Shaping

An operant conditioning technique where successive approximations of a desired behavior are rewarded.

ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis)

A technique commonly used with autism that utilizes positive reinforcement to shape behavior.

Token Economy

A therapy technique where points are earned for desired behaviors and can be exchanged for rewards.

Behavioral Activation

A technique used for depression that encourages engagement in positive activities.

Behavioral Contract

A written agreement between a therapist and a patient regarding behavioral goals.

Contingency Management

A strategy commonly used in addiction treatment that rewards healthy behaviors.

Time-out

The temporary removal of an individual from a reinforcing environment.

Social Learning Theory

The theory that people learn by observing and imitating others.

Observational Learning (Modeling)

The process of learning by watching others.

Reciprocal Determinism

A key concept in Social Learning Theory where personal factors, behavior, and the environment influence each other.

Self-efficacy

An individual's belief in their own ability to succeed.

Vicarious Reinforcement

The increase in the likelihood of imitation that occurs when an observer sees others being rewarded.

REBT (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy)

Developed by Albert Ellis, based on the idea that people are disturbed by their view of things rather than the things themselves.

ABCDE Model

A cognitive framework where A = activating event, B = beliefs, C = consequences, D = disputing, and E = effective new belief.

Unconditional Self-acceptance

An REBT goal of accepting oneself regardless of success or failure.

High Frustration Tolerance

The therapeutic goal of learning to tolerate discomfort.

Flexible Thinking

Replacing rigid terms like 'must' and 'should' with 'prefer' or 'would like'.

Demandingness

One of Ellis' 4 irrational beliefs, characterized by rigid 'musts' and 'shoulds'.

Catastrophizing

An irrational belief involving making problems into disasters.

Low Frustration Tolerance

The irrational belief that one cannot handle discomfort.

Global Rating

Judging one's entire self based on a single mistake.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

A therapy based on the principle that thoughts lead to feelings, which in turn lead to behaviors.

Cognitive Restructuring

The process of identifying and replacing irrational or negative thoughts.

Thought Monitoring

The process of catching negative thoughts, checking the evidence, and replacing them.

Aaron Beck's Cognitive Therapy

A theory suggesting psychological problems stem from negative automatic thoughts and dysfunctional beliefs.

Cognitive Distortions

Errors in thinking such as all-or-nothing thinking, catastrophizing, and mind reading.

Beck's Cognitive Triad

The three areas of negative thoughts core to depression: Self, World, and Future.

Socratic Questioning

A Beck technique used to guide clients toward identifying their own cognitive errors.

DTR (Daily Thought Record)

A technique used in Beck's Cognitive Therapy to track and evaluate thoughts.

Behavioral Experiments

A technique used to test the validity of beliefs through direct experience.

Meichenbaum's Cognitive Behavior Modification

The principle that behavior changes when an individual's self-talk changes.

Self Instructional Training

Teaching clients to replace negative self-talk with positive-instructions.