Behavior/Cognitive Theory

Executive Summary

Ivan Pavlov, J. B. Watson, B.F. Skinner,

Aaron Beck (CT),
Albert Bandura, Albert Ellis (REBT),
John Gottman,
Robert Liberman, & Richard Stuart (Couples
Therapy or BMT)
This is not a distinct treatment technique, but a general
concept that refers to a group of therapies that have similar
therapeutic methodology: Rational Emotive Behavior
Therapy (REBT), Cognitive Therapy (CT), Cognitive Behavior
Therapy (CBT), or Behavioral Marital Therapy (BMT)

- Short term, goal-oriented, practical, and hands-on to problem solve. Direct focus on specific observable

behavior and on increasing or decreasing targeted behavior; directly manipulates external

reinforcements to teach, coach, and strengthen positive behaviors. It is not the events themselves that
upset us, but the meanings that we give them. Clients beliefs have personal meanings. Special interest
is placed on how we organize, store, and process information.
- Specially useful in cases such as depression, anger, anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD),

eating disorders, gambling, substance abuse, smoking cessation, suicide attempts, grief and loss,
separation and divorce, or procrastination. As it is based on Social Learning Theory (Albert Bandura), it is
also useful in school-related issues such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Autism Spectrum Disorder
(ASD) and low self-esteem. It covers, among others, the academics, social behavior, health, emotional
aspect, and personal needs.
- If we change our thinking (internal dialogue), we can change our behavior and our feelings. Negative

thinking is an obstacle to self change. Self-regulation and self-direction are important to alter own
behavior. To shape someone elses behavior, offer positive reinforcement whenever desired behavior
occurs, and ignore undesired behavior. We want to increase desirable behavior, and/or decrease

unwanted behavior.

Dysfunctional
behavior is the result
of our flawed or
illogical
interpretation of the
behavior - Ellis.

Cognitive distortions:
- Arbitrary inferences: conclusions are drawn
without substantiating evidence. Shes late from
work, she must be having an affair.
- Over-generalizations: an isolated incident (or two)
is allowed to serve as representative of all similar
situations, related or not. She turned me down for
a date on Saturday night. I will always be rejected.

The cognitive therapist is not concerned with the cause of the

response. He/she teaches clients to first identify distorted
cognitions; the clients then discriminate between their own
thoughts and reality, and acknowledge its influence on their
feelings; this allows them to recognize, observe, and monitor
their own thoughts in order to change their behavior and
emotional state. Therapist and client work together as a team.

- Dichotomous thinking: experiences are

considered as complete successes or complete
failures. This black/white or all-or-nothing thinking
is the main cause of problems such as anxiety,
depression, and addictions. If I dont get an A in
class, I am a failure.

The behavior part of the theory involves acting upon it, so clients
can challenge their own irrational beliefs. The whole idea is to
identify unhelpful beliefs and to prove them wrong.
Because CBT is not concerned with finding the cause, much
criticism relies on the fact that symptoms can resurface at
another point in life with equally debilitating consequences.
Individuals who wish to explore the root cause of their issue
would be better placed with Psychodynamic or Humanistic
therapies.

- Mind reading, knowing what the other is thinking

without asking, and as a consequence attributing
unworthy intentions to the other. I can tell people
dont like me because of the way they behave.

Techniques:
Their phases are: assessment, educational, skills acquisition, application training (practice, practice, practice), and relapse prevention.
Cognitive Rehearsal, where the patient is asked to recall a problematic situation of the past, find a solution, rehearse positive thoughts.
Writing in a journal, to keep a daily account of situations, and find maladaptive thought pattern.
Modeling and role-playing, to overcome difficult situations and solve problems.

Couples Therapy
The goal is for couples to achieve a deeper sense of understanding, awareness, empathy, and connectedness that leads to heightened
intimacy and interpersonal growth. This is done by disarming conflicting verbal communications; increasing intimacy, respect, and affection;
removing barriers that create a feeling of inactiveness in conflicting situations, and by creating a heightened sense of empathy and
understanding within the context of the relationship.
Contingency contracts are used to enhance the quantity and quality of mutually pleasing interactions, and (by non-reinforcement) to
diminish the arguments, provocations, and generally negative communication sequences. The idea is that couples learn to negotiate
resolutions of their conflicts to create positive relationship changes. Quid pro quo (something for something) is an expression for
reciprocal positive reinforcements exchanged by successful couples. Be observant of their range, intensity, and frequency.
Forms of negativity:
- criticism (attacking a partners character)
- defensiveness (denying responsibility of certain behavior)

http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/ViewIntervention.aspx?id=134
http://www.beckinstitute.org
Schumm, J. A., OFarrell, T. J., Kahler, C. W., Murphy, M. M., & Muchowski, P. (2014). A randomized clinical trial of behavioral couples therapy versus
individually based treatment for women with alcohol dependence. J ournal Of Consulting And Clinical Psychology, 8 2( 6), 9931004. doi:10.1037/a0037497
Koerner, K., & Jacobson, N. S. (1994). Emotion and behavioral couple therapy. In S. M. Johnson, L. S. Greenberg, S. M. Johnson, L. S. Greenberg
(Eds.) ,The heart of the matter: Perspectives on emotion in marital therapy(pp. 207-226). Philadelphia, PA, US: Brunner/Mazel.
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/28-days-2000 (Movie)
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/bill-w-2012 (Movie)

- contempt (insulting, abusive attitudes toward a partner)

- stonewalling (withdrawal and unwillingness to listen to ones partner

Jason Guthrie, Victoria Woolstenhulme, Abby Algarin, Paulina Saravia-Castilln

Dennis Legget;
GED 675 Family Systems;
8/17/15