WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION TO CBT
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?
Edward Thorndike
- Law of effect.
- Responses that produce a satisfying effect become more likely to occur again, and
responses that produce a discomforting effect become less likely to occur again.
- Thorndike’s Puzzle Box tested the laws of learning.
Behaviour Therapy Focuses on
- Directly observable behaviour.
- Current determinants of behaviour.
- Learning experiences that promote change.
- Tailoring treatment strategies to individual clients.
- Rigorous assessment and evaluation.
The Little Albert Experiment
- Shown white rat, rabbit, monkey etc.
- Showed no fear to stimuli.
- Was shown white rat then,
- A sudden loud noise (hammer struck against metal bar) was made just behind Albert.
- Sudden noise would startle Albert and he would burst into tears.
- This pairing was done several times over 7 weeks with Albert bursting into tears each
time.
- Now Albert only had to be shown a rat, and he immediately showed signs of fear (crying
and trying to escape).
Systematic desensitisation
- Based on the principle of classical conditioning, a basic behavioural procedure.
- An effective treatment in the reduction of maladaptive anxiety and the treatment of
anxiety-related disorders, particularly in the area of specific phobias.
- Entails relaxation training, development of a graduated anxiety hierarchy, and DS proper
(the presentation of hierarchy items while the client is deeply relaxed).
Behaviour Fear rating
Think about a spider. 10
Look at a photo of a spider. 25
Look at a real spider in a closed box. 50
, Hold the box with the spider. 60
Let a spider crawl on your desk. 70
Let a spider crawl on your shoe. 80
Let a spider crawl on your pants/leg. 90
Let a spider crawl on your sleeve. 95
Let a spider crawl on your bare arm. 100
- Mental processes such as thoughts, beliefs, interpretations, imagery are an obvious part of
life (and problems).
- An approach was needed that brought in cognitive phenomena whilst maintaining an
empirical approach of behavioural observation.
Cognitive Theory
Aaron Beck
- Problems caused by negative thinking → alleviated by changing thinking processes.
- Mental processes such as thoughts, beliefs, interpretations, imagery are an obvious part of
life (and problems).
- An approach was needed that brought in cognitive phenomena whilst maintaining an
empirical approach of behavioural observation.
- BT and CT grew together to become CBT.
Basic Principles of CBT
1. Cognitive principle
2. Behavioural principle
3. Continuum Principle
4. ‘Here and Now’ Principle
5. ‘Interacting Systems’ Principle
6. Empirical Principle
7. Interpersonal Principle
The Cognitive Principle
What people think happens
Event →Emotion
What actually happens
Event → Cognition → Emotion
, The Behavioural Principle
- What we do impacts how we think and feel.
- Negative Behaviours cause negative emotions to persist.
- Changing what you do is a powerful way to change thoughts and emotions.
The Continuum Principle
- Mental health problems occur on a continuum.
- Mental health problems are not a different dimension altogether.
- Mental health problems arise from exaggerated versions of normal processes.
Here and Now Principle
- Focus of therapy is what is happening in the present time.
- Mainly concerned with what is maintaining or perpetuating the problem.
- Elimination of ‘driving’ factors should eliminate the problem.
- CBT does not totally dismiss the past (see Core Beliefs).
Interacting Systems Principle
Situation
- Thoughts: what was going through your mind?
- Emotions: what were you feeling?
- Behaviours: what did you do? How did you react?
- Bodily sensations: what was going on in your body?
, Hot Cross Bun Formulation
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?
Edward Thorndike
- Law of effect.
- Responses that produce a satisfying effect become more likely to occur again, and
responses that produce a discomforting effect become less likely to occur again.
- Thorndike’s Puzzle Box tested the laws of learning.
Behaviour Therapy Focuses on
- Directly observable behaviour.
- Current determinants of behaviour.
- Learning experiences that promote change.
- Tailoring treatment strategies to individual clients.
- Rigorous assessment and evaluation.
The Little Albert Experiment
- Shown white rat, rabbit, monkey etc.
- Showed no fear to stimuli.
- Was shown white rat then,
- A sudden loud noise (hammer struck against metal bar) was made just behind Albert.
- Sudden noise would startle Albert and he would burst into tears.
- This pairing was done several times over 7 weeks with Albert bursting into tears each
time.
- Now Albert only had to be shown a rat, and he immediately showed signs of fear (crying
and trying to escape).
Systematic desensitisation
- Based on the principle of classical conditioning, a basic behavioural procedure.
- An effective treatment in the reduction of maladaptive anxiety and the treatment of
anxiety-related disorders, particularly in the area of specific phobias.
- Entails relaxation training, development of a graduated anxiety hierarchy, and DS proper
(the presentation of hierarchy items while the client is deeply relaxed).
Behaviour Fear rating
Think about a spider. 10
Look at a photo of a spider. 25
Look at a real spider in a closed box. 50
, Hold the box with the spider. 60
Let a spider crawl on your desk. 70
Let a spider crawl on your shoe. 80
Let a spider crawl on your pants/leg. 90
Let a spider crawl on your sleeve. 95
Let a spider crawl on your bare arm. 100
- Mental processes such as thoughts, beliefs, interpretations, imagery are an obvious part of
life (and problems).
- An approach was needed that brought in cognitive phenomena whilst maintaining an
empirical approach of behavioural observation.
Cognitive Theory
Aaron Beck
- Problems caused by negative thinking → alleviated by changing thinking processes.
- Mental processes such as thoughts, beliefs, interpretations, imagery are an obvious part of
life (and problems).
- An approach was needed that brought in cognitive phenomena whilst maintaining an
empirical approach of behavioural observation.
- BT and CT grew together to become CBT.
Basic Principles of CBT
1. Cognitive principle
2. Behavioural principle
3. Continuum Principle
4. ‘Here and Now’ Principle
5. ‘Interacting Systems’ Principle
6. Empirical Principle
7. Interpersonal Principle
The Cognitive Principle
What people think happens
Event →Emotion
What actually happens
Event → Cognition → Emotion
, The Behavioural Principle
- What we do impacts how we think and feel.
- Negative Behaviours cause negative emotions to persist.
- Changing what you do is a powerful way to change thoughts and emotions.
The Continuum Principle
- Mental health problems occur on a continuum.
- Mental health problems are not a different dimension altogether.
- Mental health problems arise from exaggerated versions of normal processes.
Here and Now Principle
- Focus of therapy is what is happening in the present time.
- Mainly concerned with what is maintaining or perpetuating the problem.
- Elimination of ‘driving’ factors should eliminate the problem.
- CBT does not totally dismiss the past (see Core Beliefs).
Interacting Systems Principle
Situation
- Thoughts: what was going through your mind?
- Emotions: what were you feeling?
- Behaviours: what did you do? How did you react?
- Bodily sensations: what was going on in your body?
, Hot Cross Bun Formulation
