Exam 2 Study Guide Behavior Therapy
Behavior Therapy
Three Main Ideas that Distinguish Behavior Therapy
Focuses on observable behavior rather than the unconscious.
Emphasizes the present rather than the past.
Sets short-term goals and aims for rapid change.
Classical Conditioning
Definition: Classical conditioning is a learning process in which a previously neutral stimulus (NS) becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus (UCS) and acquires the capacity to elicit a similar response (CR).
Example: Pavlov's dogs experiment:
A bell (neutral stimulus) was paired with food (unconditioned stimulus) until the dogs began to salivate (conditioned response) at the sound of the bell alone.
Applications in Mental Health: Classical conditioning can explain the development of phobias and certain anxiety disorders due to conditioned responses to specific stimuli.
Extinction and Exposure Therapy
Extinction: Refers to the gradual decrease of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus (CS) is presented without the unconditioned stimulus, leading to the disassociation of the two.
Exposure Therapy:
A therapeutic technique using exposure to the conditioned stimulus to help clients face their fears.
Clients are repeatedly exposed to anxiety-inducing stimuli until their anxiety and fear diminish.
Operant Conditioning
Definition: A method of learning that occurs through reinforcement (rewards) and punishments.
Processes of Operant Conditioning
Positive Reinforcement: Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase a behavior.
Negative Reinforcement: Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior.
Positive Punishment: Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior.
Negative Punishment: Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior.
Applications in Therapy/Counseling
Operant conditioning can be used in therapy to shape behaviors by reinforcing positive actions or discouraging negative ones through structured consequences.