Behavior Therapy

Naomi R. Wiley

AmRidge University

Dr. James Kelly

Abstract

The behavioral approach was a significant departure from the psychoanalytic perspective of the 1950’s and 1960’s. B.F. Skinner believed all human behavior was a direct result of the environment in the form of stimuli, where human behavior strictly complies with the principle of causality. Skinner felt his ideas were the only true scientific theory of personality pertaining to Behavior therapy and conveying how Behavior Therapy generally would see individuals as both the producer and the product of their own behavior and environment. In addition, to focusing on the basic aim of Behavior Therapy, this paper will view Behavior Therapy from a Christian standpoint and highlight the Five key concepts for behavior theory which are the BASIC I.D. conceptual framework, behavior modification, classical conditioning, reinforcement, and systematic desensitization.

Behavior Therapy

B.F Skinner is one of the major contributors to behavior theory for his work on behavior modification he is quoted as saying, “What we observe…is that a person behaves in certain ways that usually get him out of trouble and often get him things he needs in order to survive” (Pepinsky, 1975, p. 40). Skinner (1986, p. 569) observed human behavior and found that it was influenced by things that reinforced behavior. He noted that a number of things could affect reinforcement, such as alienation, help, advice, laws, and pleasures (Skinner, 1986, pp. 570-571). Albert Bandura was another contributor and Bandura’s insight that “it is the social relationship between therapist and patient that is the vehicle for therapy” is the foundation of effective behavior therapy, as therapy predicated solely upon an interpretation of the patient’s behavior without the influence of a strong relationship with the therapist is not likely to achieve nearly as much in terms of the patient’s improvement (Crown, Freeman n, & Freeman, 1994, p. 325).

The realm of psychotherapy was ready for the advent of behavior therapy because of two factors that had prepared the way: the directive nature of behavior therapy and the popularity of learning theory as a basis for clinical phenomena, as in Mowrer’s two-factor model as an explanation for phobias as a classical conditioning experience (Antony & Roemer, 2003, p. 184). However, variations on behavioral therapy have been developed and it includes such approaches as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and rational emotive therapy (Harrington & Pickles, 2009, p. 315). Cognitive behavioral therapy is the best known of these, and it focuses primarily on effecting a change in thoughts and behavior; it is goal-oriented and based on clarity of theory and practice that is achieved through collaboration (Harrington & Pickles, 2009, p. 322). Dialectical behavioral therapy urges the client to live more in the moment, while acceptance and commitment theory and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy both use mindfulness techniques, which originate from Zen Buddhism and promote “paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmental, to the unfolding of experience moment by moment” (Harrington & Pickles, 2009, pp. 316, 319).

Behavior modification is an approach in which the therapist aids the patient to replace undesirable behaviors with desirable ones through positive or negative reinforcement (“Behavior Modification,” 2010). Positive and negative reinforcement are types of reinforcement that help to shape the patient’s responses. Positive reinforcement like encouragement or negative reinforcement like a physical shock promotes an increase in the desired behavior. Classical conditioning is the kind of repetitive training using a neural stimulus that Pavlov used when conditioning dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell (“Behavior Therapy,” n.d.). Systematic desensitization is an approach in which the patient is exposed to images of the stimulus that provokes anxiety in him and progressively becomes less anxious as he or she becomes accustomed to the stimulus.

Evaluating behavior therapy from the perspective of Christianity, it is an acceptable fit but not an optimal one. On the one hand, using BASIC I.D. and other behavioral diagnostic indicators to assess where a patient is in terms of behavior is certainly useful and not problematic at all. On the other hand, shaping a person’s behavior solely through conditioning is somewhat animalistic. Bandura’s insistence on a close relationship between the therapist and the patient improves the fit somewhat, as Christianity is a highly relational faith, and the possibility that much of the patient’s progress is due to his friendship with and faith in the therapist is consistent with the trust and relational aspects of Christianity. On the other hand, behavioral modification by itself is just a way to modify behavior; it does not address any underlying issues that created the behavior. If all undesirable behavior were merely due to the patient does not know a better way to act, behavior modification would be an excellent approach, since it conditions the patient to behave in a certain way and avoid undesirable behaviors, but in most cases, there are underlying reasons for behavior that are not addressed with behavioral modification. Ultimately, Christianity values the person and his feelings, and behavioral therapy deemphasizes these in favor of a focus on behavior. Thus, in the Christian context, behavioral therapy is best used as just one part of a multimodal approach that includes relationship and takes the patient’s feelings into consideration. In addition, the judgment about what behaviors are desirable or undesirable in behavioral therapy are largely at the discretion of the therapist rather than grounded in Christian or other ethical standards; this judgment would more aptly be based on Christian ethical standards.

References

Antony, M.M., Roemer, L. (2003). Behavior Therapy. In: A.S. Gurman & S.B. Messer, Eds., Essential Psychotherapies: Theory and Practice. New York: Guilford Press.

Behavior Modification. (2010). Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders. Retrieved on March 1, 2010 from: http://www.minddisorders.com/A-Br/Behavior-modification.html

Behavior Therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved on March 1, 2010 from: http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:GXWhGsURnzQJ:www.unm.edu/~htafoya/class8.doc+key+concepts+AND+%22behavior+therapy%22+AND+BASIC+ID&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&ie=UTF-8

Crown, S., Freeman, H., Freeman, H.L. (1994). The Book of Psychiatric Books. Lanham, MD: Jason Aronson.

Harrington, N., Pickles, C. (2009). Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Are They Compatible Concepts? Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 23(4), 315-323. EBSCO Host.
Pepinsky, P.N. (1975). Further Thoughts on the Skinnerian Connection: Ethnomethodology and Behavior Modification. The American Sociologist, 10, (Feb), 39-41. EBSCO Host.

Skinner, B.F. (1986). What Is Wrong with Daily Life in the Western World? American Psychologist, 41(5), (May), 568-674. Retrieved on February 28, 2010 from: http://pds7.egloos.com/pds/200805/27/95/skinner_whats_wrong_with_western_life.pdf