Download The Behavioural Model

The Behaviourist
model and
Treatments
The Behavioural Model
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Basic Philosophy:
That which has been learned can be unlearned.
Learning occurring through a process of classical or
operant conditioning
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Classical conditioning is learning via association
Operant conditioning is learning via reinforcement.
Stimulus and response
Social Learning theory; an extension of behaviourism,
believes that we learn by modelling and coping the
behaviours we witness around us.
The Behavioural Model
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At birth we are born with a tabula rasa
(like a blank sheet) and consequently all
behaviour is learned in same way.
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For behaviorists Abnormal behaviour is the
consequence of abnormal learning from the
environment.
The Behavioral Model
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There is no difference, in the learning,
between normal and abnormal behaviours –
they are learned in the same ways. This is
by:Classical conditioning
 Operant conditioning
 Social learning
 This is carried out via Stimulus and response
training.
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Treatments
Behaviour Therapy
and
Behaviour Modification
Behavioural Therapy
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Based on principles of Classical Conditioning
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CC involves automatic reflexive responses or
feelings (UCR)
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Most common UCR to situations of danger is fear/anxiety
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Through association can lead to fear of specific
thing/situation
Anxiety disorder, e.g. phobia
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Aim of Behavioural Therapy is to remove the
association between fear and the
object/situation
Technique 1:
Systematic Desensitisation (Wolfe, 1958)
Counter Conditioning
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Functional analysis
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construct a hierarchy of fearful situations
Relaxation training
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replacing fear response with an alternative and
harmless response.
The client is then trained in methods of relaxation
Graduated exposure
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The client is then brought gradually into contact
with the phobic stimulus, following the hierarchy.
Technique 2:
Flooding
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Aim: to remove the learned association
between the stimulus and response
 Procedure:
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Inescapable exposure to the feared object or
situation
Lasts until the fear response disappears.
Assumes that very high levels of fear/anxiety
cannot be sustained and will eventually fall.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2nK_qmvJ7A
Technique 3:
Aversion Therapy
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Previous two techniques focus on removal of
an undesirable association.
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This one aims to create an undesirable
association!
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The aim is to remove from the individual any
undesirable habits by pairing them with an
unpleasant stimulus.
Evaluation of Behavioural Therapies
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Focus on symptoms, not deeper underlying causes of
behaviour.
Systematic desensitisation can be extremely effective
in treatment of simple phobias
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Ethical issues in flooding and aversion therapy.
Intense fear and anxiety. Even systematic
desensitisation causes client to visualise or experience
feared situations.
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(60-90% success rate, Barlow et al, 2002)
Needs careful monitoring to ensure no long term ill-effects.
Ignores any genetic or biological factors in
psychological disorders.
Behaviour Modification
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Based on principles of Operant
Conditioning.
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Attempt to change voluntary controlled
behaviour, rather than reflexive
behaviours involved in classical
conditioning.
Treatment 1:
Token Economy
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Increasing desired behaviour by positive
reinforcement.
 Mostly used in institutions, e.g. psychiatric
hospitals.
 Aim is to reduce levels of anti social behaviour
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Tokens given as reward for improved behaviour.
Tokens can be exchanged for sweets, cigarettes
etc.
Treatment 2:
Social Learning Theory
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Cognitive element (not just Stimulus Response)
 Observation, vicarious reinforcement etc play a
role.
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Modelling
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the patient observes others (the “model(s)”) in the
presence of the phobic stimulus who are responding
with relaxation rather that fear to the phobic stimulus.
In this way, the patient is encouraged to imitate the
model(s) and thereby relieve their phobia.
Evaluation of Behaviour Modification
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Token Economy can improve
behaviour/reduce anti social behaviour
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But, is this replicated once patient back in
community?
Reductionist approach to complex behaviour,
seeing people as stimulus-response
‘machines’.
 SLT takes more complex view of human
behaviour, including cognitive processes of
observation and imitation.
 Ignores any genetic or biological factors in
psychological disorders.