Download Strange Bedfellows - American Group Psychotherapy Association

Strange Bedfellows:
Behavior Science &
Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy
Learning Objectives
I.
Summarize the impact of the four types of environmental consequences on
operant behavior.
In operant conditioning, responses either increase or decrease in probability depending on the
environmental consequences. The following table shows the impact of the four types of
environmental consequences (1-4) on operant behavior.
Stimulus Presented
Stimulus Removed
Response Increases
1) Positive Reinforcement
2) Negative Reinforcement
Response Decreases
3) Punishment
4) Negative Punishment
It is important to remember that classification of a stimulus as a reinforcer or punisher does not
depend on its qualities, only its function.
II.
Describe response generalization (induction) and its relevance to group
psychotherapy.
Generalization in Operant Conditioning:
There are two types – Stimulus generalization and response generalization, also known as
induction. Stimulus generalization affects the ability to respond successfully to stimuli that are
not the same as the original, but do resemble the original. Response generalization affects the
ability to use different responses to achieve the same or similar result.
III.
Summarize cultural behavior and its relevance to resistance in group
psychotherapy.
Cultural behavior is a special class of operant behavior and is learned through the
imparting of rules and the modeling of behavior. Families can be considered to have their own
culture, and the cultural conditioning in families can cause powerful resistance to changing social
behavior, even if this thwarts current needs and desires.
Russell Hopfenberg. PhD, CGP, FAGPA
919-431-0085
Workshop 56-5 2/26/2016
New York, NY
Page 1 of 2
Strange Bedfellows:
Behavior Science &
Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy
IV.
Explain the connection between respondent conditioning and emotional
difficulties and their amelioration in psychodynamic group psychotherapy.
Distinctions Between Operant and Respondent Conditioning
Feature
Causative Stimuli
Stimulus presentation
Typical Physiology
Response
Operant Conditioning
Follow response
Response is necessary
Striped muscles
Emitted
Group Relationship
Involvement
Family Relationship
Conditioning
CSR
CSP
CSR
UCSR
CSP
UCSP
UCSRCRR
UCSPCRP
Group Relationship
Avoidance
CSR
UCSR
CSP
UCSP
Respondent Conditioning
Precede response
Response is not necessary
Glands & smooth muscles
Elicited
Associated anxiety 
anxious enthusiasm
Enhanced CRR
Diminished CRP
Experience of
deprivation /
depression
Anxiety is avoided
Extinguished CRR
Avoided CRP
Left: Family relationships are associated with nurturing as well as abuse. Top center: Through
Group Relationship Involvement, the group member experiences the desirous CSR and UCSR.
They are also exposed to the aversive CSP but without the aversive UCSP, which eventually
causes the CSP to lose its ability to elicit anxiety. Top right: Continued engagement in the group
relationships without experiencing abuse initially leads to anxiety followed by its attenuation.
This, combined with the experience of support and connection, leads to anxious enthusiasm.
Bottom center: With Group Relationship Avoidance, the group member does not experience the
desirous UCSR. Additionally, they are not exposed to the CSP and also not exposed to the UCSP
as indicated by the ellipse. Bottom right: Ironically, non-exposure to the CSP and UCSP avoids
the anxious response (CRP) yet causes the CSP to maintain its ability to elicit anxiety. Thus
anxiety is avoided but at the cost of depression caused by deprivation of interpersonal support
and nurturing.
Russell Hopfenberg. PhD, CGP, FAGPA
919-431-0085
Workshop 56-5 2/26/2016
New York, NY
Page 2 of 2