Lesson Notes

Lesson 15.2a  Classical Conditioning Techniques: The Power of Association

This lesson looks at how classical conditioning principles can be applied to therapy. This form of therapy is also known as counterconditioning therapy. From Pavlov’s initial studies involving dogs and salivation, classical conditioning has come a long way. Today, the two most popular classical conditioning techniques used in therapy are systematic desensitization and aversion therapy. The former is a well-known technique to battle phobias, while the latter is primarily used to deal with unwanted behaviours such as drug or alcohol use.

Lesson 15.2b  Operant Conditioning Techniques: Increasing the “Good” and Decreasing the “Bad”

A close look at this lesson will reveal that you, yourself, may have been subjected to “behaviour therapy” and never even knew it! Operant Conditioning techniques are used by a wide variety of people in our society. From you parents to teachers, from politicians to businesses, the use of these techniques has been shown to be effective in shaping desired behaviours, while decreasing unwanted behaviours. Once you take a look at the section, you will come to see the numerous ways that operant conditioning is used to increase “good” behaviour.

15.2c  Observational Learning Techniques: The Power of Modeling

This lesson extends the work done by Albert Bandura. Modeling therapy is exactly what it sounds like: Clients observe and imitate appropriate models as they perform desired behaviours. This type of therapy is popular with social skills building, assertiveness training and phobias. If any of you have been involved with Safe Teen at your schools, this could be considered a form of modeling “therapy”.

Lesson 15.2d  Evaluating Behaviour Therapies: How Well Do They Work?

Two main concerns of Behavioural Therapy are addressed in this lesson. The question of whether a client can generalize the new behaviours to all settings and the ethics (controlling another person’s behaviour) are discussed.