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Behavior therapies are designed to change behavior directly, rather than as an indirect result of gaining insight into the origins of problems or changing thought patterns. Behavior therapy is usually combined with other therapies, most notably with cognitive therapy, to maximize benefits to clients. Behavior therapy uses learning as the basis for behavioral change. Operant conditioning is the cornerstone of the treatments. Basically, operant conditioning is the process by which the environment shapes people's behavior. The theory behind operant conditioning is that behaviors increase and become stronger when they are reinforced, and decrease when they are punished. Positive reinforcement occurs when a person engages in a behavior and is rewarded, which results in an increase in that behavior (giving your children a prize for a certain behavior is a sure way to get them to engage in the desired behavior again). Negative reinforcement occurs when a person avoids a negative event by performing a behavior; for example, a child may eliminate the threat of punishment by cleaning his room. Thus both positive and negative reinforcement are designed to increase the probability of a behavior. On the other hand, punishment is designed to decrease the behavior being punished; if a child is punished for taking someone else's toy, he or she is less likely to take it again. However, punishment must be used with great discretion lest it make the child dislike and avoid the person doing the punishment. The best example of behavior therapy probably is systematic desensitization, a very successful way to eliminate phobias. This procedure reduces the fear gradually by "systematically" introducing the feared object, first very gradually through fantasy, or photographs, or showing the feared object at a very safe distance. Systematic desensitization is designed to keep the patient relaxed throughout the process so that the fear never becomes uncomfortable as the therapy proceeds. In later stages the actual feared object is brought closer until finally the object is no longer feared. Modeling may also be used, with the therapist or another person handling the phobic situation without fear. Common fears that can generally be treated successfully are fear of flying and fear of enclosed spaces. Other behavior therapy tools include progressive relaxation, role-playing, self-monitoring, behavioral observations, and biofeedback. Behavior therapy can be used to treat a wide range of problems including anxiety, depression, sexual disorders, relational problems, and especially childhood disorders, for which behavior therapy is ideal and is usually taught to parents so that they can implement the techniques at home. Basically, any disorders that involve maladaptive behaviors in people who are physically capable of behavior change can be improved with behavior therapy. Go to the web and read a study comparing cognitive-behavioral therapies to medication for the treatment of depression. Last updated 12/19/03 |
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