Figure 16.9Example of an anxiety hierarchy. Systematic desensitization requires the construction of an anxiety hierarchy like the one shown here, which was developed for a woman with a fear of heights who had a penchant for hiking in the mountains.

Figure 16.11Beck’s cognitive theory of depression. According to Aaron Beck (1976, 1987), depression is caused by certain patterns of negative thinking. This chart lists some of the particularly damaging cogni-tive errors that can foster depression.

Psychological Therapies PSYC 2618 Chapter 13A

Psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud’s therapeutic approach. The goal is to help people gain insight into the unconscious origins of their problem(s)

Free association spontaneous expression of thoughts with as little censorship as possible

Psychodynamic therapy a modification of psychoanalysis face-to-face interaction short-term more focus on the present

Rogers’ client-centered therapy

Active listening empathic listening in which the listener echoes, restates, and clarifies

Behavior therapies

Systematic desensitization a type of exposure therapy uses classical conditioning involves associating a pleasant relaxed state with anxiety-arousing stimuli

Steps of Systematic Desensitization Learn to relax Learn to rate level of anxiety Construct anxiety hierarchy Learn to relax while visualizing each situation. Start with lowest-anxiety situations and gradually work your way up the hierarchy.

Fig. 16.9, p. 530

Aversive conditioning uses classical conditioning involves pairing an unpleasant stimulus with an undesired behavior in order to reduce its occurrence used to discourage drinking, smoking, gambling, & shoplifting

Operant conditioning therapies

Token economy an operant conditioning procedure in which people earn a token for exhibiting a desired behavior and can later exchange the tokens for privileges or treats

Cognitive therapy an approach that focuses on getting clients to change their irrational, self-defeating patterns of thinking

Fig. 16.11, p. 531

Is psychotherapy effective?