Lesson Two - Behaviourism

What does the behaviorist model attribute psychological disorders to?

Disorders are a result of learned behavior influenced by rewards and punishments in an individual's environment.

Which two psychologists are associated with the behavioral model, and what concepts did they develop?

Skinner developed operant conditioning (positive/negative reinforcement), and Pavlov developed classical conditioning (creating associations between stimuli to elicit learned responses).

What is operant conditioning?

A process where behaviors are promoted with rewards (positive reinforcement) and reduced with punishments (negative reinforcement).

What is classical conditioning, and how does it work?

Classical conditioning involves creating associations between stimuli. A neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus that triggers a conditioned response after repeated pairing with an unconditioned stimulus.

How can classical conditioning lead to the development of phobias?

A neutral stimulus (e.g., an elevator) becomes associated with a traumatic experience (e.g., a parent's panic attack), leading to a conditioned fear response (e.g., claustrophobia).

What are two treatments based on behaviorist principles?

1. Extinction: Unpairing a conditioned stimulus (e.g., dog) from the unconditioned stimulus (e.g., being dragged).

2. Systematic Desensitization: Gradually exposing the individual to the feared stimulus to reduce intensity.

What does the cognitive model attribute psychological disorders to?

Disorders are caused by biased or distorted thoughts, such as unrealistic or inaccurate interpretations of events.

What is the main goal of cognitive therapy?

To identify and challenge biased thoughts with evidence to improve mental health.

What are the three D's commonly used to define psychological abnormality?

1. Dysfunction

2. Distress or Impairment

3. Deviance (culturally acceptable or not)

What is psychological dysfunction?

A breakdown in cognition, emotional, or behavioral functioning where normal processes no longer work adaptively.

What is the difference between distress and impairment in the context of abnormality?

• Distress: Feeling upset about a problem.

• Impairment: Difficulty performing daily activities, such as going to work.

What is an example of behavior being culturally atypical but not necessarily a disorder?

A religious individual hearing the voice of God might not be atypical in their cultural context, but the same behavior in an irreligious person may be considered unusual or disordered.