PSYC4030 6.0DCBT Chapter 6 Chapter 6: Stimulus Control and Reinforcement Therapy

PSYC4030 6.0DPSYC4030 6.0D CBT Chapter 6CBT Chapter 6

Chapter 6:Chapter 6:Stimulus Control andStimulus Control and

Reinforcement TherapyReinforcement Therapy


Stimulus Control: AntecedentsStimulus Control: Antecedents

1.1. PromptingPrompting

• Cues that remind or instruct you to Cues that remind or instruct you to behave in a particular waybehave in a particular way

• Verbal, environmental, physical, and Verbal, environmental, physical, and behavioural promptsbehavioural prompts

• FadingFading: with repeated reinforcement, : with repeated reinforcement, prompts become unnecessaryprompts become unnecessary


Stimulus Control: AntecedentsStimulus Control: Antecedents

2. Setting Events2. Setting Events• Complex environmental conditions that Complex environmental conditions that

influence the likelihood of behaviour influence the likelihood of behaviour occurringoccurring

• Manipulation of setting events is often Manipulation of setting events is often sufficient to produce behaviour changesufficient to produce behaviour change

• Easy, efficient first interventionEasy, efficient first intervention• Coupled with Coupled with planned activity schedulingplanned activity scheduling

for desirable behaviors in old settingfor desirable behaviors in old setting


Reinforcement: ConsequencesReinforcement: Consequences

• Arranging the consequences of a Arranging the consequences of a behaviour so that it is more likely to be behaviour so that it is more likely to be performed again in the futureperformed again in the future

• Not a Not a rewardreward, technically, technically— rewards may not affect future behavioursrewards may not affect future behaviours

• what a reinforcer is a priori is unknown what a reinforcer is a priori is unknown • Behavior therapy usually relies on Behavior therapy usually relies on

positivepositive reinforcement reinforcement


Positive ReinforcersPositive Reinforcers

1.1. Tangible: material objects, “stuff”Tangible: material objects, “stuff”2.2. Social reinforcers: attention, praise, Social reinforcers: attention, praise,

approval, acknowledgement approval, acknowledgement • Powerful natural reinforcerPowerful natural reinforcer

3.3. Token: symbolic itemsToken: symbolic items4.4. ActivitiesActivities

• Everyday tasksEveryday tasks


Premack PrinciplePremack Principle

• Use of any high frequency behaviour as Use of any high frequency behaviour as a reinforcer for lower frequency a reinforcer for lower frequency behavioursbehaviours

• High frequency behaviours are not High frequency behaviours are not necessarily pleasurablenecessarily pleasurable


Identifying Identifying PotentialPotential ReinforcersReinforcers1.1. Questioning clientsQuestioning clients

2.2. Exposure to generalized reinforcersExposure to generalized reinforcers• Catalogue methodCatalogue method• Reinforcement Survey ScheduleReinforcement Survey Schedule• Pleasant Event SchedulePleasant Event Schedule

3.3. Observing routine behavioursObserving routine behaviours• Based on Premack PrincipleBased on Premack Principle


Pleasant Events Schedule (MacPhillamy & Lewinsohn, 1971)


Pleasant Events Schedule (MacPhillamy & Lewinsohn, 1971)


Identifying Identifying PotentialPotential ReinforcersReinforcers• Can be created by introducing Can be created by introducing

generalized reinforcers that become generalized reinforcers that become attractive (I.e. video game)attractive (I.e. video game)

• Social reinforcers can serve here as Social reinforcers can serve here as well (modelling, approval)well (modelling, approval)


Administering ReinforcersAdministering Reinforcers

1.1. Self-reinforcement and reinforcing Self-reinforcement and reinforcing agents (therapist, teacher, etc.)agents (therapist, teacher, etc.)

• Moving to self-directed changeMoving to self-directed change

2.2. Continuous vs. Intermittent reinforcersContinuous vs. Intermittent reinforcers• Initially Initially continuouscontinuous reinforcement will be reinforcement will be

usedused• Moving to Moving to intermittentintermittent schedule schedule


Intermittent SchedulingIntermittent Scheduling

• Increases likelihood of transfer, Increases likelihood of transfer, generalization, and long-term generalization, and long-term maintenancemaintenance

• Mimics real life schedules of Mimics real life schedules of reinforcementreinforcement

• Relies more on expectation of Relies more on expectation of reinforcement than a continuous reinforcement than a continuous scheduleschedule


Intermittent SchedulingIntermittent Scheduling

1.1. IntervalInterval schedule: reinforcer given schedule: reinforcer given during a particular time interval (if during a particular time interval (if behaviour is performed)behaviour is performed)

• paychequepaycheque

2.2. RatioRatio schedule: reinforcer given after schedule: reinforcer given after behaviour is performed a particular behaviour is performed a particular number of timesnumber of times

• gamblinggambling


Reinforcement GuidelinesReinforcement Guidelines

1.1. The contingency must be clearThe contingency must be clear2.2. Reinforcement is given immediatelyReinforcement is given immediately3.3. Reinforcement is given consistentlyReinforcement is given consistently4.4. Client must be aware of reinforcersClient must be aware of reinforcers5.5. Move from continuous to intermittent Move from continuous to intermittent

reinforcementreinforcement6.6. Should be a preference for “natural” (real Should be a preference for “natural” (real

world) reinforcersworld) reinforcers7.7. Maintain potency of reinforcerMaintain potency of reinforcer


ShapingShaping

• Necessary for teaching relatively Necessary for teaching relatively complex behaviourscomplex behaviours

• Only components of behaviour are Only components of behaviour are reinforcedreinforced

• Reinforce successively closer Reinforce successively closer approximations to the target behaviourapproximations to the target behaviour


Ethical ConsiderationsEthical Considerations

What motivates us to do the things we do?What motivates us to do the things we do?

1.1. Intrinsic worthIntrinsic worth

2.2. Personal freedomPersonal freedom

3.3. Bribing clientsBribing clients

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PSYC4030 6.0DCBT Chapter 6 Chapter 6: Stimulus Control and Reinforcement Therapy