Week 4 - Psychotherapeutic Interventions & Evidence Based Practice (Part 1)
Focuses on observable behaviour rather than internal mental states.
All behaviour is viewed as learned through interaction with the environment
Key figures are John B. Watson, and B F Skinner.
Key Concepts
Classical conditioning:
Associating stimuli with responses.
Pavlov's dogs
Used in therapy to eliminate phobias or anxiety
Operant conditioning:
Uses positive or negative reinforcement and punishment to shape behaviour
Applies to techniques like token economies to encourage desired behaviour
Techniques
Positive reinforcement:
Rewarding desired behaviours to increase their occurrence.
Exposure therapy:
Gradually exposing clients to fear, objects or situations in a controlled way to reduce anxiety or phobia
Behaviour modification:
Changing maladaptive behaviours through structured rewards, and consequences
Practical applications:
Used for treating phobias, OCD, addiction, and various anxiety disorders.