Behavior therapy: roots, evolution and reflection on the relevance of behaviorism in the clinical context

Abstract

Behavior Therapy-as well as its three generations-has been shown to be the psychotherapeutic technology with the most empirical evidence in clinical and health psychology. However, each of its generations is based on different philosophical foundations. In this paper, we briefly present their historical background, their strengths, and the possible drawbacks that we find in each one. First, behaviorism (methodological and radical) and its various techniques based on the principles of learning, followed by the emergence of cognitive-behavioral therapies in a historical context marked by cognitivism and, today, the most effective technique for a wide variety of cases. Finally, those known as third generation (or contextual) therapies, a technology derived from functional contextualism that is the basis of these therapies. As conclusions, the relevance of the debate surrounding the object of study of psychology and the adherence to evidence-based psychological treatments is highlighted.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapies for Weight-Loss in Adults: A Scoping Review Protocol

“…Hayes SC first named these therapies as “third wave” in 2004 [ 16 ], although they appeared in the late 1990s [ 17 ]. All three waves of therapy aim to modify behaviour [ 18 ]. The first wave, or behaviour therapy, is focused directly on problematic behaviour and emotion, based on conditioning principles such as reinforcing or discriminating [ 19 ].…”

Terapia Conductual -Cognitiva en Problemas Infantiles

“…Contrario a lo que se piensa, la modificación de conducta no constituyó un movimiento estático que emplea técnicas tipo castigo para obligar a las personas a cambiar (Ascanio-Velasco y Ferro-García, 2018;Rodríguez-Riesco et al, 2022). Este hace referencia a toda una lógica de entendimiento sobre la adquisición de los comportamientos ajustados (o no) a los criterios sociales, ofreciendo explicaciones sobre su mantenimiento y la manera con la cual pueden ser modificados, debiendo de darse la actuación del profesional, guiada por una actitud ética (Montgomery, 2016;Montesinos et al, 1983).…”