Behavior therapy is a treatment approach aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors through learned principles such as classical and operant conditioning. Techniques include systematic desensitization, flooding, aversion therapy, positive reinforcement, and various behavioral shaping methods. The therapy is cost-effective, tailored to individual needs, and focuses on current behaviors rather than historical antecedents.

1. BEHAVIOR THERAPY
MS. SADHANA YADAV
NURSING TUTOR

2. Behavior Therapy
 It is a form of treatment for problems in which a
trained person deliberately establishes a
professional relationship with the client, with the
objective of removing or modifying existing
symptoms and promoting positive personality,
growth and development

3. Behavior therapy involves identifying
maladaptive behaviors and seeking to
correct
these by applying the principles of learning
derived from the following theories:
 Classical conditioning model by Ivan
Pavlov (1936)
 Operant conditioning model by BF Skinner
(1953)

4. Major Assumptions of Behavior Therapy-
 All behavior is learned (adaptive and maladaptive).
 Human beings are passive organisms that can
be conditioned or shaped to do anything if
correct responses are rewarded or reinforced.
 Maladaptive behavior can be unlearned and
replaced by adaptive behavior if the person.
 Receives exposure to specific stimuli and
reinforcement for the desired adaptive
behavior.

5.  Behavioral assessment is focused more on the
current behavior rather than on historical
antecedents.
 Treatment strategies are individually tailored.
Behavior therapy is a short duration therapy,
therapists are easy to train and it is cost-effective.

6. Behavior Techniques-
(A)Systematic desensitization
 It was developed by Joseph Wolpe, based
on the behavioral principle of counter
conditioning.
 In this patients attain a state of complete
relaxation and are then exposed to the
stimulus that elicits the anxiety response.
The negative reaction of anxiety is inhibited
by the relaxed state, a process called
reciprocal inhibition.

7. It consists of three main steps:
 1. Relaxation training
 2. Hierarchy construction
 3. Desensitization of the stimulus

8. Flooding:
The patient is directly exposed to the
phobic stimulus, but escape is made
impossible.
By prolonged contact with the phobic
stimulus, the therapist's guidance and
encouragement and his modeling behavior
reduce anxiety.
Indication:
Specific phobias

9. AVERSION THERAPY:
Pairing of the pleasant with an unpleasant response,
so that even in of the unpleasant response the
pleasant stimulus becomes unpleasant. Unpleasant
response is produced by electric stimulus, drugs,
social disapproval or even fantasy.
Indications:
 Phobias
 Obsessions
 Compulsions
 Certain sexual disorders

10. OPERANT CONDITIONING PROCEDURE FOR
INCREASING ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOUR-
 Positive reinforcement:
When a behavioral response is followed by a
generally rewarding event such as food, praise or
gifts, it tends to be strengthen and occur more
frequently than before reward. This techniques is
used to increase desired behavior.
 Token economy:
This program involves giving token rewards
for appropriate or desired target behaviors
performed by the patient.

11. OPERANT CONDITIONING PROCEDURE TO
TEACH NEW BEHAVIOUR-
A) Modeling-
Modeling refers to the learning of new behaviors by
imitating the behavior in others. Role models are
individuals who have qualities or skills that a person
admires and wishes to imitate
EX-Children imitate the behavior patterns of their
parents, teachers, friends, and others. Adults and
children alike model many of their behaviors after
individuals observed on television and in movies

12. B) Shaping-
In shaping the components of a particular skill, the
behaviour is reinforced step by step. The therapist
starts shaping by reinforcing, the existing behavior.
C) Chaining-
Chaining is used when a person fails to perform a
complex task. The complex task is broken in to a
number of small step and each step is taught to the
patient.
In forward chaining one start with the first
steps, goes on to the second step, then to the third and
so on. In backward chaining, one starts with the last
step and goes on to the next step in a backward
fashion.

13. OPERANT CONDITIONING PROCEDURES FOR
DECREASING MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR-
a)Extinction/Ignoring
Extinction mean removal of attention rewards
permanently, following a problem behavior. This
includes actions like not looking at the patient, not
talking to the patient, or having no physical contact
with the patient.
This is used when patients exhibit odd
behavior.

14. b) Punishment-
The punishment procedure should be administered
immediately and consistently following the undesirable
behavior with clear explanation.
Desirable punishment should always be added
when a punishment is being used for decreasing an
undesirable behavior
c) Time out-
Time out method includes removing the patient from the
reward or the reward from the patient for a particular
period of time following a problem behavior. This is
often used in the treatment of childhood disorders. for
eg. the child is not allowed to go out of the ward to play
if he fails to complete the given work.

15. Thank You