Behaviour therapy
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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.
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[edit] History
Possibly the first occurrence of "behavior therapy" was in a 1953 research project by Skinner, Ogden Lindsley, and Harry C. Solomon.[1] Other early pioneers in behavior therapy include Joseph Wolpe and Hans Eysenck.[2]
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.
[edit] Scientific basis
Behavior therapy is based upon the principles of classical conditioning developed by Ivan Pavlov and operant conditioning developed by B.F. Skinner. There has been up to now a good deal of confusion about how exactly these two conditionings differ and whether the various techniques of Behaviour Therapy have any common scientific base. One answer has come in the form of an online paper called Reinforcing Behaviour Therapy which more and more psychologists are now studying and appreciating.
[edit] Methods
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Lindsley, O., Skinner, B.F., Solomon, H.C.. "Studies in behavior therapy (Status Report I)". Walthama, MA.: Metropolitan State Hospital.
- ^ Clark, David M.; Christopher G. Fairburn (1997). Science and Practive of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0192627260.
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