Psychology of Learning

Module 13: Behavioral Therapy

Key Terms

A-B-C Analysis: Functional assessment method examining Antecedents, Behaviors, & Consequences to identify maintaining variables.

Animated Video Modeling: Video modeling using cartoon or animated characters to demonstrate target behaviors.

Anxiety Hierarchy: Ranked list of fear-inducing situations from least to most threatening, used in systematic desensitization.

Aversion Therapy: Therapeutic approach using conditioning to create unpleasant associations with problematic stimuli or behaviors.

Awareness Training: Component of habit reversal training teaching individuals to recognize when they engage in the habit.

Backup Reinforcers: Tangible rewards, privileges, or activities that tokens can be exchanged for in a token economy.

Behavioral Activation: Treatment for depression based on increasing engagement in positively reinforcing activities.

Biofeedback: Using electronic monitoring to provide real-time information about physiological processes for self-regulation training.

Cognitive Modeling: Observational learning technique where the model thinks aloud, verbalizing cognitive processes that guide performance.

Competing Response Training: Component of habit reversal training teaching a physically incompatible behavior to replace the habit.

Conditioned Fear Response: Learned emotional reaction of fear elicited by a previously neutral stimulus after conditioning.

Conditioned Stimulus: Previously neutral stimulus that elicits a response after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Contingency Management: Systematic application of reinforcement contingencies to increase desired behaviors or decrease problematic ones.

Counterconditioning: Pairing a conditioned stimulus that elicits an undesirable response with a stimulus that elicits an incompatible, positive response.

Covert Self-Instruction: Final phase of self-instructional training where the individual uses inner speech to guide performance.

Covert Sensitization: Imaginal form of aversion therapy where clients imagine unwanted behavior followed by aversive consequences.

Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior: Reinforcing a specific appropriate behavior that serves the same function as the problem behavior.

Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior: Reinforcing the absence of the problem behavior during specified time intervals.

Direct Conditioning: Mary Cover Jones’s method of gradually introducing a feared object while the child engages in a pleasurable activity.

Evidence-Based Practice: Interventions supported by rigorous research demonstrating effectiveness; video modeling holds this designation for ASD.

Exposure & Response Prevention: Treatment for OCD involving exposure to obsession-triggering situations while preventing compulsive rituals.

Faded Self-Guidance: Phase of self-instructional training where the individual whispers instructions while performing a task.

Feedback: Specific information about performance quality provided during social skills training.

Flooding: Immediate, prolonged exposure to intensely feared stimuli without gradual hierarchy progression.

Functional Behavior Assessment: Systematic process for identifying the environmental variables maintaining problem behavior.

Functional Communication Training: Teaching appropriate communicative responses that serve the same function as problem behavior.

Group Therapy: Treatment format providing natural opportunities for observational learning through peer modeling.

Habit Reversal Training: Behavioral treatment for repetitive behavior disorders combining awareness training with competing response training.

Imaginal Exposure: Exposure therapy technique where clients imagine fear-inducing scenarios rather than confronting them directly.

Imitative Behavior: Therapeutic factor in group therapy describing clients learning by observing other group members.

Implosive Therapy: Imaginal flooding variant using exaggerated, unrealistic worst-case scenarios to maximize anxiety activation.

Incredible Years: Evidence-based parent training program using group format with extensive video modeling of parenting strategies.

Inhibitory Learning Model: Contemporary theory that exposure creates new safety memories competing with original fear memories.

In Vivo Exposure: Real-life confrontation with feared stimuli, generally more effective than imaginal exposure.

Instruction: Clear explanation of target skill and its components during social skills training.

Live Coaching: PCIT technique where therapist provides real-time guidance through wireless earpiece during parent-child interaction.

Live Modeling with Guided Participation: Observing a live model then gradually participating in the interactions oneself.

Modeling: Therapist or peer demonstration of a skill during social skills training.

Neurofeedback: Biofeedback targeting brain electrical activity (EEG) to train self-regulation of neural patterns.

Overt External Guidance: Phase of self-instructional training where child performs task while adult provides verbal instructions.

Overt Self-Guidance: Phase of self-instructional training where child performs task while self-instructing aloud.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: Evidence-based treatment for disruptive behavior using live coaching of parent-child interactions.

Participant Modeling: Treatment combining observation of a model with guided participation by the observer.

Peer Modeling: Observational learning from individuals similar in age or status to the observer.

Point-of-View Video Modeling: Videos filmed from the learner’s perspective showing what they would see when performing a task.

Principles of Behavior Modification: Bandura’s (1969) systematic framework for understanding therapeutic applications of observational learning.

Prize-Based Contingency Management: CM variant where clients earn chances to win prizes of varying value contingent on target behaviors.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Technique involving systematic tensing and releasing of muscle groups to achieve deep relaxation.

Reciprocal Inhibition: Principle that two incompatible emotional responses cannot occur simultaneously.

Reinforcement: Praise and encouragement for skill acquisition during social skills training.

Response-Contingent Positive Reinforcement: Core mechanism of behavioral activation; engaging in activities that produce positive outcomes.

Role-Play: Client practice of skills in simulated scenarios during social skills training.

Self-Efficacy: Observer’s belief in their capability to successfully perform a behavior.

Self-Instructional Training: Meichenbaum’s approach teaching individuals to guide their behavior through self-directed speech.

Social Cognition & Interaction Training: Intervention focusing on social cognitive processes; compared to SST in recent meta-analyses.

Social Skills Training: Structured approach to teaching interpersonal competencies through modeling, practice, and feedback.

Spontaneous Recovery: Return of an extinguished response after time has passed, demonstrating original learning persists.

Stimulus Generalization: Extension of conditioned responses to stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus.

Symbolic Modeling: Observational learning from filmed or recorded demonstrations rather than live models.

Systematic Desensitization: Wolpe’s structured treatment combining relaxation with graduated exposure to feared stimuli.

Therapeutic Factors: Mechanisms of change in group therapy identified by Yalom, including imitative behavior and universality.

Token Economy: Reinforcement system where tokens are earned for target behaviors and exchanged for backup reinforcers.

Tolerance Series: Mary Cover Jones’s hierarchy documenting Peter’s progressive approach to the feared rabbit.

Traditional Video Modeling: Watching videos of another person performing target behaviors correctly.

Triple P: Positive Parenting Program; multi-level system of parenting interventions incorporating video modeling.

Universality: Therapeutic factor involving recognition that others share similar problems, reducing isolation.

Vicarious Extinction: Learning that feared consequences do not occur through observing a model’s safe interaction with feared stimuli.

Video Modeling: Using recorded demonstrations of target behaviors to teach new skills.

Video Self-Modeling: Watching edited videos of oneself successfully performing target behaviors.

Virtual Reality: Computer-generated immersive environments used for therapeutic modeling and exposure interventions.

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy: Using VR environments to simulate feared situations for graduated exposure treatment.

Virtual Role-Play: Practicing social interactions with virtual characters in simulated environments.

Voucher-Based Reinforcement Therapy: CM approach where clients earn vouchers exchangeable for goods or services contingent on verified abstinence.