Psych 202 1st Edition Lecture 9-Systematic Desensitization: a modern treatment for "phobias" that follows Mary Cover Jones historical example:oSystematic desensitization (SD) takes classical conditioning into realm of cognition: visualimagery and mental associations are actively engagedoSD: a "cognitive-behavioral" method of treatment for phobias using the principle of "counterconditioning"oCounterconditioning: a CC procedure for weakening a CR by associating the CS (fear-producing stimulus) with a new response incompatible with the fearoThe SD technique: the therapist, with the client, develops a hierarchy of feared situations (CS's: e.g. seeing pictures of snakes to napping with a Boa around your neck)oNext, person is taught relaxation + coping imagery and skillsoThen client applies learned skills while imagining CS's-What happens when phobic individuals practice SD?oConditioned fear, a CR, is counter conditioned by newly developed incompatible responsesoNote: practice involves repeated trials, which are forms of pairings of stimuli!oResult: diminishment of fear achieved through an increase of capacity and motivation for active coping/management of anxiety-producing situations-How does SD work?oWhen/if we pair new and incompatible responses (relaxation, normal breathing, coping thoughts/images, voluntary parasympathetic activity in general) with images of CS's, this leads to new CS-CR associations over trials, called "higher-order conditioning"oThe new learning creates a "safety memory" which can be activated by cortical processes to inhibit fear-output by amygdalaoThus extinction processes of old fear learning typically involves learning fear-inhibition behaviors via counterconditioning-Related principlesoExposure and extinction are fundamental to behavioral change as result of SD-Trying to decouple CS and UCS-Trying to recondition with a new associationoIn CC terms, breaking old associative bonds (CS/UCS relations) through exposure, extinction, and re-conditioning leads to learning of new associative bonds-A Theoretical DistinctionoNote the difference: systematic desensitization vs in vivo desensitization-What is nature of exposure in SD vs in vivo desensitization?In SD exposure: all in your mind, exposing yourself to images and thoughts and mental dimensions of the fear and the reactivityIn vivo desensitization exposure: in life, people go to therapists and aren't actually facing any fear, need to bring person and fear together; exposure is physicalThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.-Isn't any better than SD-Gary Larson's Images of "Exposure"oFacing fear of dark, heights, and snakes all at once-Learning II: basic concepts in operant conditioningoReinforcement, punishmentoPositive and negative reinforcementoShapingoSchedules of reinforcement and their effects on learning-ShapingoConsequences of behavior determine its survival (as in Thorndike's "law of effect")oComplex sequences of behavior are learned gradually, through selective positive reinforcement or shaping of "successive approximations" of target behavior-In video clip, the pigeon is shaped first to turn in a circle, then eventually to solve math problems and play the piano-You're shaping pigeon to turn left until it is a circleoEx's: toilet training, learning a motor skill, learning "manners", reading, good study habits, social charm and influenceoSkinner: we are shaped to do almost everything we do in life-Reinforcement: the fundamental ideaoReinforcement refers to the process of strengthening or increasing the probability of behavioroAny stimulus that increases/strengthens the behavior which precedes it is called a reinforcer; there are + and - reinforcers (ex's below)-Positive reinforcement:oWhen a pleasant/positive stimulus follows a behavior and strengthens it, the behavior is said to have been positively reinforcedoPositive reinforcers: money (strengthens what sort of behaviors?: class list); good grades,privileges, hugs, high fives, pleasant drug effects on consciousness, social regard/approval, promotions and bonuses, warm-fuzzies, and other goodies from your honey-bunoIs alcohol positively reinforcing? What are the positive reinforcers for drinking alcohol in our culture?-Negative reinforcement:oWhen negative/aversive stimulus is terminated/removed following a behavior, resulting in the strengthening of that behavior, the behavior is said to have been negatively reinforcedoThe removal of an aversive stimulus, which leads to an increase in the behavior that preceded the removal of the negative stimulus-Examples of reinforcement (+ and -) events:oThe Office video clip-UCS: altoid-UCR: salivate-CS: tone of computer-CR: salivate-Operant behavior: him sticking his hand out for altoid automatically-He is positively reinforced for sticking out his hand usually-Fixed ratiooA parent gives in to a whining child-What is negatively reinforced?Aversive stimulus? (which is removed): whiningBehavior that immediately preceded the removal of the aversive stimulus in likely to increase frequency: parent giving in (being negatively reinforced)-What behavior is positively reinforced here?WhiningoSaying "I'm sorry" terminates mom's menacing glances-Negatively reinforced behaviors?Apology-Positively reinforced behaviors?Your mom's menacing glance, she has perfected the glanceoAnxiety is decreased by performing compulsive rituals-Negatively reinforced behavior: hand washing, because it reduced anxietyoHeadaches stop when aspirin is ingested-Negatively reinforced behavior:-Shamu Story: another bridge between classical and operant conditioning (and a lesson in mindfulness, stress-reduction, and