Behavior Therapy
Known in Arabic as العلاج السلوكي (Behaviour Therapy), this therapeutic approach focuses on modifying individuals’ behaviors and guiding them towards positive paths. It is recognized as a method for rehabilitating individual behavior, particularly during childhood, to help young people identify their interests and set practical and academic goals. This therapeutic concept is associated with the behavioral school of thought, which was fundamentally established by psychologist John Watson through extensive studies and psychological research.
The Theory of Behavior Therapy
This theory emphasizes a variety of ideas and influential factors in the implementation of behavior therapy, using concepts related to behavior. Key aspects of this theory include:
- Human Behavior: This point serves as the foundational phase of behavior therapy theory, aiding in the distinction between learned behaviors that are acquired during early developmental stages.
- Disordered Behavior: This concept refers to the impact of external behaviors on the individual that do not align with their personal nature.
- Normal Behavior: This denotes the positive influence of accepted behaviors acquired from others in the surrounding community.
- Behavior Modification: This involves utilizing various influencing factors to transform behaviors that are deemed unacceptable or unsuitable for the individual’s environment.
Methods of Behavior Therapy
Several methods are commonly employed to deliver and implement behavior therapy with individuals, including:
Anxiety and Stress Reduction Technique
This method focuses on diminishing anxiety and stress levels that individuals may experience due to negative influences. The therapist typically employs a counteracting stimulus to address anxiety, which unfolds through a series of therapeutic stages. This approach facilitates the removal of negative stimuli and their gradual replacement with positive influences.
Sequential Approach
The sequential approach is an effective behavior therapy technique aimed at reducing the impact of external factors on individual behavior. In this method, the therapist constructs a treatment model based on a series of systematic steps that help shift erroneous responses into appropriate ones. For example, this method can assist individuals in overcoming their fears, such as acrophobia (fear of heights), by gradually exposing them to controlled heights.
Reinforcement Technique
This straightforward therapeutic approach relies on moral and psychological support to help individuals overcome undesirable or problematic behaviors. It is particularly effective with children and students experiencing psychological issues or neglect towards their studies. In this context, therapists, educational counselors, or parents utilize a system of rewards and consequences: rewarding a student for demonstrating positive behavior while administering consequences for negative behavior. It is crucial for the individual implementing the reinforcement technique to approach the individual or student with care to achieve favorable results.