Deliberate Alteration of Human Behaviour

Deliberate Alteration of Human Behaviour

Behaviour consists of learned responses to simple stimuli. One example

of the use of deliberate alteration of behaviour is with phobias. In

the learning approach, phobias are seen as the result of maladaptive

learning by classical conditioning. If at some time a fearful, even

traumatic, event has occurred then, by classical conditioning the

person experiencing this may associate it with anything that was

around at the time.

Behaviour therapy is the means of treating phobias using classical

conditioning. Joseph Wolpe (1958) developed a procedure known as

systematic desensitisation that consists of three phases: relaxation

training, construction of fear hierarchy and counter-conditioning by

pairing the feared object with a relaxation response.

The patient is first trained in deep muscle relaxation. In this phase,

the patient constructs a list of feared stimuli, starting from the

least feared, to the most disturbing. In the next phase, the patient

is then required to use the learned relaxation technique when

presented with the feared stimulus, starting with the least feared,

and gradually working up the ladder of fears. This technique is known

as systematic desensitisation because it involves gradually

desensitising the person to the feared stimulus. This technique does

not use classical conditioning alone. The therapist will encourage and

congratulate the patient for being able to cope with each stimulus.

The therapist may also model appropriate behaviour, and therefore

encouraging and reassuring the patient.

Systematic desensitisation aims to extinguish the fear response of a

phobia, and substitute a relaxation response to the conditioned

stimulus gradually, step by step. This method of treatment is thought

to work because it seems impossible for two opposite emotions (like

fear and relaxation) to exist together at the same time.

Another example which is based on classical conditioning is aversion

therapy. This aims to remove undesirable responses to certain stimuli

by associating them with other aversive (unpleasant) stimuli, in the

hope that the undesirable responses will be avoided in the future. An

example of a use of aversion therapy is for the treatment of alcohol