Behavior Modification

Recommended Prerequisites

It is advisable that students have previously taken the following courses: Biological basis of behavior, Motivation and emotion, Psychopathology: fundamental themes and Developmental Psychology.

Teaching Methods

Expositive, interrogative and active method, large group discussion, use of audio-visuals for the projection diagrams with topics of the contents taught. 

Role-play and simulation exercises to develop assessment and intervention skills. 

Learning Outcomes

This UC aims to familiarize students with the various learning paradigms, their contributions to mental health, as well as the practical implications, in a generic way. Specifically, it aims to provide students with knowledge of dysfunctional learning styles, etiologically responsible for psychopathology, on the one hand, and healthy mechanisms, derived from the laws of learning, which promote functional and flexible behaviors, on the other hand.

Skills to develop:

To acquire theoretical knowledge about the three behavioral paradigms.

To know the implications derived from behavioral paradigms.

To know the different applications inherent to each learning paradigm, in order to promote healthy and flexible behaviors. 

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. The context of the emergence of Behavioral Therapy and scientific assumptions.

2. The English school and American school.

3. Classical Conditioning Paradigm: Fundamental concepts, type A and type B Conditioning, Psychopathology, Therapeutic methods and Limitations.

4. Operanting Conditioning Paradigm: Fundamental concepts, Psychopathology, Therapeutic strategies and Limitations.

5. Social Learning Paradigm: Fundamental concepts, Psychopathology, Therapeutic methods and Limitations.

6. Behavior Assessment - Behavioral Chain Analysis: an introduction.

7. Behavioral formulation, in the light of each behavioral paradigm.

Head Lecturer(s)

Paula Cristina Oliveira Castilho Freitas

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Frequency: 50.0%
Exam: 50.0%

Bibliography

Martin, G., & Pear, J. P. (2019). Behavior Modification: What It Is and How To Do It, 11thEdition. Routledge.

Antony, M.M., & Roemer, L. (2011). Behavior Therapy (Theories of Psychotherapy). American Psychological Association

Leslie, J.C. & O'Reilly, M.F. (2003). Behavior Analysis: Foundations and Applications to Psychology.Psychology Press

Fisher, W. W.,Piazza, C. C., & Roane, H. S. (2011). Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis.The Guilford Press.