Discussion Question: Behavior Therapy and Cognitive behavior Therapy
In this discussion we examine the principles and techniques of both behavior therapy and cognitive behavior therapy.
Use the following scenario to develop your responses to the next twoquestions: Assume that you work in a day care center and take care offour 6-year-olds. One of the boys, Ethan, frequently disrupts theclassroom. He disobeys your orders, bullies and pushes the otherchildren in your care, and throws tantrums when he does not get what hewants.
1. Using operant conditioning principles, how might you structure abehavioral approach to working with Ethan in a way that directlyaddresses his problematic behaviors? What techniques would you use? Bespecific and explain your rationale thoroughly.
2. As a result of your intervention, as mentioned in question 1,what specific behavioral changes might you expect in Ethan as a resultof employing these techniques? Again, be specific and detailed in yourresponse.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
3. Using the rational-emotive behavior approach to therapy, applythe A-B-C method mentioned in the course lecture notes to either a reallife situation that you have experienced or create a scenario toillustrate how the realization of beliefs influence the consequences ofbehavior. Be sure to clearly label each component (A)ctivating event,(B)elief, and (C)onsequence in your example to show how they relate andthe progression of the behaviors. Then take the ABC model full circleand include the (D)isputing and the (E)ffect of the disputingprocess. Clearly explain in detail how each step in the ABCDE processis playing out in your scenario.
This discussion may actually be beneficial to those of you with children!
How do you deal with a child that is physically acting out, whether he/she is around other kids or not?
Should you use negative consequences? Should you ignore? Should you reward when they aren’t acting out?
If you do reward, when should you do this and what should you use? Doyou have children and do you use a behavioral plan with them?
Also, you are to apply the A-B-C sequence to a real or made up situation and then add the D and E!
Let’s see what kind of situation you can come up with!!
Let’s have a great discussion.
