Chrysalis Module 4 25
Behaviourists explain maladaptive behaviour in terms of the learning principles that sustain and maintain it. Discuss this statement and show how a behaviourists approach to therapy is in stark contrast to psychoanalytic one.
The term ‘therapy’ literary means, “curing, healing” and is defined as a treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder. Historically, there has been considerable development in the range and types of therapy that can be used to help a client overcome their problems in a modern world. Some of these theories are very different whilst others share some similarities.
Edward Thorndike proposed the ‘Law of Effect’ whereby behavioural responses which were closely followed by pleasant consequences, would ensure that the same behaviour would be highly likely to recur. It also stated that the more a stimuli is connected with a response, the stronger the link between the two. If however, responses were followed by adverse consequences then associated to this situation were considered to be weaker. Skinner used Thorndike’s law of effect and developed the terms ‘reinforcement and punishment’ with the variants described as positive and negative reinforcement and positive and negative punishments.
Positive reinforcement in humans are gifts or money whilst negative reinforcement involved the elimination of disagreeable stimuli i.e. If a person has a headache , this can be eased by taking a headache pill thereby achieving the required outcome and removing the pain. These were regarded as the core tools in Operant Conditioning.
Skinner believed that behaviours that created a positive response are therefore reinforced and continued, whilst behaviour that creates a negative response would be more likely to be eliminated. His investigation of Operant Conditioning on pigeons and rats uncovered, he believed, that many of the principles of Operant Conditioning could be applied to humans.
However, in 1925, John Watson a behavioural psychologist, made the
The term ‘therapy’ literary means, “curing, healing” and is defined as a treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder. Historically, there has been considerable development in the range and types of therapy that can be used to help a client overcome their problems in a modern world. Some of these theories are very different whilst others share some similarities.
Edward Thorndike proposed the ‘Law of Effect’ whereby behavioural responses which were closely followed by pleasant consequences, would ensure that the same behaviour would be highly likely to recur. It also stated that the more a stimuli is connected with a response, the stronger the link between the two. If however, responses were followed by adverse consequences then associated to this situation were considered to be weaker. Skinner used Thorndike’s law of effect and developed the terms ‘reinforcement and punishment’ with the variants described as positive and negative reinforcement and positive and negative punishments.
Positive reinforcement in humans are gifts or money whilst negative reinforcement involved the elimination of disagreeable stimuli i.e. If a person has a headache , this can be eased by taking a headache pill thereby achieving the required outcome and removing the pain. These were regarded as the core tools in Operant Conditioning.
Skinner believed that behaviours that created a positive response are therefore reinforced and continued, whilst behaviour that creates a negative response would be more likely to be eliminated. His investigation of Operant Conditioning on pigeons and rats uncovered, he believed, that many of the principles of Operant Conditioning could be applied to humans.
However, in 1925, John Watson a behavioural psychologist, made the
Bibliography: 1. Richard Gross Psychology The science of mind and behaviour 2. Pete Sanders, Alan Franklands & Paul Wilkins Next Steps in Counselling Practice (A Students’ companion for degrees, HE diplomas and vocational courses) 3. Pete Sanders First Steps in Counselling (A student’s companion for basic Introductory courses) 4. Oliver James They f*** You Up (How to survive family life) 5. Mike Cardwell, Liz Clark, Claire Meldrum Psychology for A level