 Behavioral Therapy (Behavioral Modification): therapy that applies learning principles to the elimination of unwanted behaviors.

 Behavior therapists do not believe in the healing power of self-awareness. › Example: You can be aware of your anxiety about a dance performance, but you will still have the anxiety.  These therapists believe that just being aware of a behavior does not necessarily solve the problem.

 In order to treat phobias or any kind of disorder, behavior therapists do not examine the lower regions below the surface while observing the inner causes.  They see maladaptive symptoms (i.e. anxiety) as learned behaviors that can be manipulated to appear as constructive behaviors.

 O.H. Mowrer’s experiment exemplifies chronic conditioning using bed-wetters. He had children sleep on liquid sensitive mats attached to an alarm, so eventually they learned to control their urinary system through conditioning.  Counterconditioning: behavior therapy procedure that conditions new responses to stimuli that trigger unwanted behaviors; based on classical conditioning.  Two types of counterconditioning: › Exposure therapy › Aversive therapy  Classical conditioning is the process of changing problem behavior through conditioning.

 Exposure therapies: behavioral techniques such as systematic desensitization that treats anxieties by exposing people to things they fear and avoid  Joan B. Watson composed an experiment in which she intended to rid Peter of his fear of rabbits by associating these animals with the pleasurable feeling of eating. › Throughout her experiment, Peter grew more accustomed to having the rabbit near while he was eating, and eventually the child could hold the rabbit in his lap.  Two types of Exposure Therapy: › Systematic desensitization › Virtual reality exposure therapy

 Systematic desensitization: a type of counterconditioning that associates a pleasant relaxed state with gradually increasing anxiety-triggering stimuli. Commonly used to treat phobias.  You cannot be simultaneously anxious and relaxed.  If you can repeatedly relax when facing anxiety-provoking stimuli, you can gradually eliminate your anxiety. › Must be done gradually  Example: If you are afraid of public speaking, a behavior therapist might suggest that you create an anxiety hierarchy to help you evaluate your levels of anxiety in order to better manage this emotion.

 Progressive Relaxation: the process where a therapist asks the patient to relax one muscle group at a time; training his body to relax.  The therapist will give many different scenarios designed to promote an anxiety-filled situation where the patient gradually trains his/her body to relax in stressful situations.

 Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy: an anxiety treatment that progressively exposes people to simulations of their greatest fears, such as airplane flying, spiders, or public speaking.  This form of behavior therapy offers an alternative way of dealing with fears: virtual simulation. › Example: A flight simulator will help one overcome a fear of flying.

 Aversive Conditioning: a type of counterconditioning that associates an unpleasant state (like nausea) with an unwanted behavior (like drinking alcohol).  The objective is to substitute a negative (aversive) response with a positive response to a harmful stimulus. › This is the reverse of systematic desensitization.  Example: To treat nail biting, wear bad-flavored nail polish.  The problem with aversive conditioning is that participants know that they can stop applying the negative responses to the harmful stimulus because they are addicted therefore, the harmful stimulus feels good to them. (drinking alcohol)

 Voluntary behaviors are strongly influenced by their consequences.  Operant conditioning helps victims feel in control of their situation. › A mentally challenged child is taught to care for himself.  Token economy: an operant conditioning procedure where people each earn a token of some sort for exhibiting a desired behavior and can later exchange the tokens for various privileges or treats. › Praise and food are both common forms of tokens (rewards).

 Two concerns of critics: › Practicality › Ethical  What happens when the reinforces stop, as when the person leaves the institution?  Is it right for one human to control another’s behavior?

Ford-Martin, P. (2005). Behavioral therapy. Retrieved from Herkov, M. (n.d.). About behavior therapy. Retrieved from Myers, D. (2007). Psychology. Holland, Michigan: Worth Publishers.