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Behavior therapy is a form of psychotherapy used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, phobias, and other forms of psychopathology. Its philosophical roots can be found in the school of behaviorism, which states that psychological matters can be studied scientifically by observing overt behavior, without discussing internal mental states.

History Edit

Behavior therapy originally grew out of a 1953 research project by B.F. Skinner, Ogden Lindsley, and Harry C. Solomon.^[1]

In the second half of the 20th century, behavior therapy was coupled with the cognitive therapy of Aaron Beck and Albert Ellis, to form cognitive behavioral therapy and rational emotive therapy.

Scientific basis Edit

Behavior therapy is based upon the principles of classical conditioning developed by Ivan Pavlov and operant conditioning developed by B.F. Skinner and modelling behavior studied by Albert Bandura

Notable Behavioral TheoristsEdit

• Albert Bandura
• Ivan Pavlov
• B.F. Skinner
• Edward Thorndike
• John B. Watson
• Joseph Wolpe

Main techniquesEdit

The main techniques used in behavior therapy are derived from the scientific base and include:

• Aversion therapy
• Exposure and response prevention
• Behavior contracting
• Behavior modification
• Counterconditioning
• Flooding
• Implosive therapy
• Observational learning
• Reciprocal inhibition therapy
• Relaxation therapy
• Systematic desensitization

Common treatmentsEdit

The particular techniques have been combined into clinical protocols to treat particular behaviour disorders

• Anger control
• Anxiety Management
• Social skills training
• Communications skills training

See also Edit

• Cognitive therapy
• Cognitive behavioural therapy
• Eye movement desensitization therapy
• Paradoxical techniques
• Response cost

References Edit

1. REDIRECT Template:Reflist

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