Behavior Vs. Cognitive-Behavior
Differences and Similarities, Used Together or Separately
Behavior Therapy:
- Focuses on observable behavior and the consequences of that behavior
- Determines how behaviors work to achieve goals or undermine goals
- Discourages maladaptive behaviors, encourages goal-achieving behaviors
- Utilizes a consequence/reward tactic for changing behaviors maladaptive behaviors into goal-achieving behaviors
Cognitive-Behavior Therapy:
- Focuses on how perception drives behaviors
- Helps clients think differently about situations
- Involves discussions about how different internalizations lead to different behavior
- Involves the client practicing positive internalizations resulting in more adaptive behavior
Together or separately?
When used separately, the emphasis is placed on either a reward/punishment, conditioning system for changing behavior in relation to external stimuli OR on interpretation of client's emotional response to stimuli and how the resulting behavior can be changed if that emotional response changes. When used together, clients are taught how to distinguish between rational emotional responses and irrational emotional responses as well as to determine how the resulting behavior will impact their ability to achieve goals based on the consequences of that emotionally driven behavior through various tactics, such as the common behavior therapy technique of role-playing along with the common cognitive-behavior therapy technique of practice by applying within daily life what was learned in the therapy setting.