Introduction to behavioral approaches

Behavioral Therapy:
What Is Behavioral Therapy?
Behavioral therapy is a term used to describe a broad range of techniques used to change
maladaptive behaviors. The goal is to reinforce desirable behaviors and eliminate unwanted
ones. Behavioral therapy is rooted in the principles of behaviorism, a school of thought focused
on the idea that we learn from our environment.
Unlike some other types of therapy that are rooted in insight (such as psychoanalytic therapy
and humanistic therapies), behavioral therapy is action-based. Because of this, behavioral
therapy tends to be highly focused. The behavior itself is the problem and the goal is to teach
people new behaviors to minimize or eliminate the issue.
Behavioral therapy suggests that since old learning led to the development of a problem, then
new learning can fix it.

TYPES OF BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

There are a number of different types of behavioral therapy. The type of therapy used can
depend on a variety of factors, including the condition that is being treated and the severity of
the symptoms.
● Applied behavior analysis uses operant conditioning to shape and modify problematic
behaviors.
● Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) relies on behavioral techniques but adds a cognitive
element, focusing on the problematic thoughts that lie behind behaviors.
● Dialectical behavioral therapy is a form of CBT that utilizes both behavioral and cognitive
techniques to help people learn to manage their emotions, cope with distress, and
improve interpersonal relationships.
● Exposure therapy utilizes behavioral techniques to help people overcome their fears of
situations or objects. This approach incorporates techniques that expose people to the
source of their fears while practicing relaxation strategies. It is useful for treating specific
phobias and other forms of anxiety.
● Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) focuses on identifying negative or destructive
thoughts and feelings. People then actively challenge those thoughts and replace them
with more rational, realistic ones.
● Social learning theory centers on how people learn through observation. Observing
others being rewarded or punished for their actions can lead to learning and behavior
change.
TECHNIQUES
In order to understand how behavioral therapy works, it is important to know more about the
basic principles that contribute to behavioral therapy. The techniques used in this type of
treatment are based on the theories of classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Techniques Based on Classical Conditioning:
Classical conditioning involves forming associations between stimuli. Previously neutral stimuli
are paired with a stimulus that naturally and automatically evokes a response. After repeated
pairings, an association is formed and the previously neutral stimulus will come to evoke the
response on its own. Classical conditioning is one way to alter behavior. Several different
techniques and strategies are used in this approach to therapy.

● Aversion therapy: This process involves pairing an undesirable behavior with an aversive
stimulus in the hope that the unwanted behavior will eventually be reduced. For
example, someone with an alcohol use disorder might take disulfiram, a drug that
causes severe symptoms (such as headaches, nausea, anxiety, and vomiting) when
combined with alcohol.

● Flooding: This process involves exposing people to fear-invoking objects or situations

intensely and rapidly. It is often used to treat phobias. During the process, the individual
is prevented from escaping or avoiding the situation.

● Systematic desensitization: In this technique, people make a list of fears and then learn
to relax while concentrating on these fears. Starting with the least fear-inducing item and
working their way up to the most fear-inducing item, people systematically confront these
fears under the guidance of a therapist while maintaining a relaxed state. Systematic
desensitization is often used to treat phobias and other anxiety disorders.

Techniques Based on Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning focuses on how reinforcement and punishment can be utilized to either
increase or decrease the frequency of a behavior. Behaviors followed by desirable
consequences are more likely to occur again in the future, while those followed by negative
consequences become less likely to occur.

Behavioral therapy techniques use reinforcement, punishment, shaping, modeling, and related
techniques to alter behavior. These methods have the benefit of being highly focused, which
means that they can produce fast and effective results.
● Contingency management: This approach uses a formal written contract between a
client and a therapist (or parent or teacher) that outlines behavior-change goals,
reinforcements, rewards, and penalties. Contingency contracts can be very effective in
producing behavior changes since the rules are spelled out clearly, preventing both
parties from backing down on their promises.
● Extinction: Another way to produce behavior change is to stop reinforcing behavior in
order to eliminate the response. Time-outs are a perfect example of the extinction
 process. During a time-out, a person is removed from a situation that provides
reinforcement. By taking away what the person found rewarding, unwanted behavior is
eventually extinguished.
● Modeling: This technique involves learning through observation and modeling the
behavior of others. Rather than relying simply on reinforcement or punishment, modeling
allows individuals to learn new skills or acceptable behaviors by watching someone else
perform those desired skills.
● Token economies: This strategy relies on reinforcement to modify behavior. People are
allowed to earn tokens that can be exchanged for special privileges or desired items.
Parents and teachers often use token economies, allowing kids to earn tokens for
engaging in preferred behaviors and lose tokens for undesirable behaviors. These
tokens can then be traded for rewards such as candy, toys, or extra time playing with a
favorite toy.

AREAS OF APPLICATION
Behavioral therapy can be used to treat many psychological disorders including anxiety
disorders, sexual disorders, depression, interpersonal and marital problems, chronic mental
conditions, childhood disorders, eating and weight disorders as well as prevention and
treatment of cardiovascular disease (Corsini & Wedding, 2000).

CRITICISMS
Behavioral therapy has a number of advantages. When it comes to treating specific issues,
behavioral therapy can sometimes be more effective than other approaches. Phobias and
obsessive-compulsive disorder, for example, often respond well to behavioral treatments.
However, behavioral approaches are not always the best solution. Some possible downsides of
his form of therapy:

● It may not be right for some complex mental health conditions: Behavioral therapy is
generally not the best approach when treating certain psychiatric disorders such as
severe depression and schizophrenia.
● It may not account for underlying problems: Behavioral treatments tend to focus on
current problems with functioning and may not fully appreciate or address the underlying
factors that are contributing to a mental health problem.
● It may not address the whole picture: Behavioral approaches are centered on the
individual working to change their behaviors. Some of these approaches, however, often
don't address how situations and interpersonal relationships might be contributing to a
person's problems.

CONCLUSION
Overall, behavioural therapies are not generally used on their own in treating psychological
disorders however the techniques used in behavioural therapies are applicable to treatment in a
wide variety of settings. Behavioral therapies have contributed to greater understanding of
the learning processes and have also significantly influenced measurement strategies for
identifying psychological problems such as anxiety disorders.
REFERENCES

Corey, C. (2005). Theory and practice of counseling & psychotherapy. (7th ed.). Belmont, CA:
Thomson Learning.
Seligman, L. (2006). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy: Systems, strategies, and skills.
(2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Ltd.