Behavior Therapy: Treating Symptoms over Causes
Behavior Therapy Chapter 9
Introduction:
Behavior therapy therapists focus on observable behavior, current determinants of behavior, learning experiences that promote change, tailoring treatment strategies to individual clients, and rigorous assessment and evaluation. Behavioral procedure are used in the fields of developmental disabilities, mental illness, education as well as special education, community psychology, clinical psychology, rehabilitation, business, self-management, sports psychology, health related behaviors and gerontology. Historical Background:
Traditional behavior therapy arose simultaneously in the US, South Africa and Great Britain in the 1950’s. In spite of harsh criticism and resistance from psychoanalytic psychotherapists, the approach survived. Its focus was on demonstrating that behavioral conditioning techniques were effective and were a viable alternative to psychoanalytic therapy. Contemporary behavioral therapy emerged as a major force in psychology in the 1970’s. Known as the “first wave” in the behavioral field, behavior therapy techniques were viewed as the treatment of choice for many psychological problems. The 1980’s were characterized by a search for new horizons in concepts and methods that went beyond traditional learning theory. Behavior therapists continued to subject their methods to empirical scrutiny and to consider the impact of the practice of therapy on both clients and the larger society. Increased attention was given to the role of emotions in therapeutic change as well as biological factors in psychological disorders. Two of the most significant developments in the field were:
1. The continued emergence of Cognitive Behavior Therapy as a major force
2. The application of behavioral techniques to the prevention and treatment of health related disorders.
By the late 1990’s the Association fir Behavioral and Cognitive Therapists (ABCT) formerly known as the Association for Advancement of Behavior
Introduction:
Behavior therapy therapists focus on observable behavior, current determinants of behavior, learning experiences that promote change, tailoring treatment strategies to individual clients, and rigorous assessment and evaluation. Behavioral procedure are used in the fields of developmental disabilities, mental illness, education as well as special education, community psychology, clinical psychology, rehabilitation, business, self-management, sports psychology, health related behaviors and gerontology. Historical Background:
Traditional behavior therapy arose simultaneously in the US, South Africa and Great Britain in the 1950’s. In spite of harsh criticism and resistance from psychoanalytic psychotherapists, the approach survived. Its focus was on demonstrating that behavioral conditioning techniques were effective and were a viable alternative to psychoanalytic therapy. Contemporary behavioral therapy emerged as a major force in psychology in the 1970’s. Known as the “first wave” in the behavioral field, behavior therapy techniques were viewed as the treatment of choice for many psychological problems. The 1980’s were characterized by a search for new horizons in concepts and methods that went beyond traditional learning theory. Behavior therapists continued to subject their methods to empirical scrutiny and to consider the impact of the practice of therapy on both clients and the larger society. Increased attention was given to the role of emotions in therapeutic change as well as biological factors in psychological disorders. Two of the most significant developments in the field were:
1. The continued emergence of Cognitive Behavior Therapy as a major force
2. The application of behavioral techniques to the prevention and treatment of health related disorders.
By the late 1990’s the Association fir Behavioral and Cognitive Therapists (ABCT) formerly known as the Association for Advancement of Behavior