Behaviouralism

• View person as a biological entity, similar to any other mammal

• Personality is shaped in an effort to adapt to environmental circumstances

• Shaping is predictable and stable

• Environment “causes” personality

Behaviouralism

• Human behaviour is learned

• Learning occurs through patterns of reinforcement

• Reinforcements are predictable patterns of reward and punishment

• Over time, patterns become difficult to extinguish (or “unlearn”)

Conditioning

Pavlov: Classical conditioning

• Pairing of a stimulus and a response

• Repeated exposure to stimulus provokes predictable responses

• Basis for “learning” in animals and in humans (e.g. toilet training)

• Behaviours that are classically conditioned

Conditioning

Skinner - Operant Conditioning

Premise:

Organisms (including humans) are continually in the process of operating within an environment, and are seeking to adapt to it

Operant Conditioning

Behaviour:

any response to an external stimuli, including an emotion, thought, or action

Reinforcing Stimulus:

increases the operant (the behaviour occurring immediately prior to stimulus)

Operant Conditioning

Principle 1:A behaviour followed by a reinforcing

stimulus results in an increased probability of that behaviour occurring in the future

Principle 2:A behaviour followed by an aversive stimulus

results in decreased probability of that behaviour occurring in the future

Operant Conditioning

Principle 3 (Extinction):

A behaviour no longer followed by stimulus results in decreased probability of behaviour occurring in the future

Pleasant Stimulus

PositiveBehaviour

NegativeBehaviour

AddStimulus

PositiveReinforcement

PositiveReinforcement

RemoveStimulus

Noreinforcement

NegativeReinforcement

Aversive Stimulus

PositiveBehaviour

NegativeBehaviour

AddStimulus

NegativeReinforcement

NegativeReinforcement

RemoveStimulus

NoReinforcement

PositiveReinforcement

Application of Behaviouralism:Behaviour Modification Therapy

Goal:

To extinguish undesirable behaviour and replace with desirable behaviour

Method:

Use positive reinforcement techniques

Behaviour Modification Therapy

Examples:

- lifestyle modifications

- smoking cessation

- medication adherence

Behaviour Modification Therapy

A Antecedent

B Behaviour

C Consequent

Summary

• Identify target behaviour

• Describe environmental conditions

• Map out antecedents that predict behaviour

• Map out consequents that positively reinforce behaviour

• Develop substitute positive reinforcers

• Implement environmental changes

1. Identify Target Behaviour

• Compilation of PBI (Problematic Behaviour Inventory)

• Identify and name key problem (e.g. “smoking” vs. “anxiety” (causing smoking))

• Triangulation of data: why is a behaviour a problem, and for whom?

2. Environmental Conditions

• Social and cultural determinants of behaviour

• Naming of triggers (people, events)

• Role of triggers

• Narrative techniques to elicit information

3. Mapping Antecedents

• 5 W’s and H

• Who/what triggers behaviour?

• Where/when does triggering occur?

• Why does triggering occur?

• How does it occur?

4. Mapping Consequents

• What rules govern positive or negative reinforcement of the behaviour in question?

• What rewards/punishments are linked to the behaviour?

5. Substitute Reinforcers

• What reinforcers are already in place?

• What new ones can be introduced?

• Avoid punishment (ie. negative reinforcement of negative behaviour)

• Focus on positive reinforcement of positive behaviour

• Caution re: coercive exchange

Case Study

Strengths/Limitations of Behaviouralism

Strengths:

- effective, efficient for children

- a “non-psychological” theory

Limitations:

- limited efficacy in complex situations

- can be frustrating, time consuming

- requires commitment and energy

As a pharmacist...

• Help patient identify “patterns”

• Help patient identify “reinforcers”

• Don’t rely on education alone

• Focus on positive reinforcement of positive behaviours

• Praise and criticism by themselves have limited value; need other reinforcers