Question

The goal of behavior therapy is to: A. identify the early childhood unconscious conflicts that are the source of the client's symptoms. B. achieve major personality reconstruction. C. alter the frequency of specific problematic responses by using conditioning techniques. D. alter the client's brain chemistry by prescribing specific drugs.

Short answer

**Answer:** The goal of behavior therapy is to alter the frequency of specific problematic responses by using conditioning techniques.

Step-by-step solution

Understand behavior therapy

First, it is important to know what behavior therapy is. Behavior therapy is a type of psychotherapy that aims to change unhealthy behavior patterns by using learning principles, such as classical and operant conditioning.

Evaluate the options

Now, let's evaluate each option and determine which one accurately describes the goal of behavior therapy: A. Identifying the early childhood unconscious conflicts that are the source of the client's symptoms is not the focus of behavior therapy. This option is more related to psychoanalytic therapy, which focuses on unconscious conflicts and past experiences. B. Achieving major personality reconstruction is not the primary goal of behavior therapy. While behavior therapy can contribute to personality changes, it mainly focuses on altering specific problem behaviors. C. Altering the frequency of specific problematic responses by using conditioning techniques is consistent with the principles of behavior therapy. This option accurately describes the goal of behavior therapy. D. Altering the client's brain chemistry by prescribing specific drugs is not the focus of behavior therapy. This would be more related to pharmacotherapy or biological treatments for mental disorders.

Choose the correct answer

Based on the evaluation of the options, the correct answer is: C. Alter the frequency of specific problematic responses by using conditioning techniques.

Key concepts

Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning is a fundamental concept in behavior therapy, which was first introduced by Ivan Pavlov. It involves learning through association. In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response. Here's a simple example:

• Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): Food, which naturally produces salivation in dogs.
• Neutral Stimulus (NS): A bell ringing, which initially does not cause salivation.
• Conditioned Response (CR): After repeatedly pairing the bell with the food, the sound of the bell alone eventually causes the dog to salivate.

In behavior therapy, classical conditioning techniques are used to modify unwanted behaviors by breaking the associations that have been learned. For example, if someone has a phobia of dogs, a therapist might help them form positive associations with dogs through gradual and repeated exposure.

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning is another key technique used in behavior therapy. Introduced by B.F. Skinner, it deals with learning through consequences. Operant conditioning involves changing behavior by using reinforcement or punishment:

• Positive Reinforcement: Adding a rewarding stimulus to increase a desired behavior. For example, giving a child a treat for cleaning their room.
• Negative Reinforcement: Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior. For example, turning off a loud noise when a task is completed to encourage future task completion.
• Positive Punishment: Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease an unwanted behavior. For example, scolding a pet for jumping on furniture.
• Negative Punishment: Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease behavior. For example, taking away a toy when a child misbehaves.

Behavior therapists use operant conditioning to help clients modify their behavior by identifying and altering the consequences that influence those behaviors. This technique is highly effective in treating a variety of issues, such as substance abuse and attention-related disorders.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a broad term encompassing a range of therapeutic techniques aimed at improving mental health and well-being. Behavior therapy is one type of psychotherapy focusing on modifying specific problem behaviors rather than delving into past experiences or unconscious conflicts, as seen in psychoanalytic therapy.
Different types of psychotherapy share core similarities, such as:

• Providing a supportive environment where individuals can talk openly about their issues.
• Offering structured sessions with a trained therapist who guides the therapy process.
• Utilizing evidence-based approaches tailored to the individual's unique needs.

While behavior therapy targets the overt symptoms by using conditioning techniques, other forms of psychotherapy, like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or humanistic therapy, may take a more holistic view, addressing thoughts and emotions as well as behaviors. The goal is to help clients develop coping strategies that promote mental health and improve life satisfaction.