Understanding Behavior:
Behavioral Theory
What is the purpose of behavior change?
The main goal in changing aversive behaviors is to increase the student's quality of life.
Theoretical Models of Behavior
Psychodynamic Model (a.k.a. Psychoanalytic)
Basic Assumptions:
Interventions and Treatments:
Research Support:
Usefulness for Teachers:
- Atypical behavior results from internal psychological events and motivational forces.
- Psychological disturbances and behavioral problems result from an individual's failure to successfully complete developmental stages, or resolve the psychological conflicts that accompany each stage.
- The best-known psychodynamic theory is Freud's psychoanalytic theory.
Interventions and Treatments:
- Counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, play therapy, dream interpretation, or other forms of therapy.
- Providing supportive environments (including classrooms) that place few demands on the child.
- Live Space Interview: a therapeutic approach that sues verbal meditations (the Life Space Interview) to guide individuals through emotional/behavioral crises with the short term goal of "emotional first aid on the spot" or the long term goal of "clinical exploitation of life events"
Research Support:
- There is no scientific evidence the the existence of psychological stages and conflicts.
- Some research suggests that psychotherapy for children and youth is more effective than no treatment.
- Research consists primarily of clinical impressions and case studies which are less convincing than controlled studies.
Usefulness for Teachers:
- Low
- Teachers are not training in therapy
- Time consuming
Ecological Model
Basic Assumptions:
Interventions and Treatments:
Research Support:
- Atypical behavior is the result of an interaction between the individual and the environmental influences present in the various ecosystems in which the individual functions.
Interventions and Treatments:
- Ecological assessment, the process of gathering information about a child's behaviors and the ecosystems in which the child functions
- Match students to teachers who have a high tolerance for student's behavioral characteristics
Research Support:
- Studies have shown positive results for youth who have received Project Re-Ed services and short-term and long-term maintenance of treatment outcomes.
- Low unless access to collaborative efforts found in ecological programs
Cognitive Model
Basic Assumptions:
Interventions and Treatments:
Research Support:
Usefulness for Teachers:
- Reality Therapy: therapeutic interactions between adults and children with behavior problems designed to help the child identify errors in thinking, and engage in more reality-based thinking
- Choice Theory: behavior is voluntary, but driven by basic needs for survival, love, belonging, power, freedom, and fun
- Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy: problem behavior stems from irrational thinking in response to antecedent stimuli
Interventions and Treatments:
- Interventions focus on verbal interactions, designed to help the child identify thinking errors or irrational thoughts and learn new reality-based thinking
Research Support:
- Reality therapy and choice therapy rely primarily on case studies and testimonials
- A meta-analysis of REBT research found positive outcomes for students involved in REBT interventions
Usefulness for Teachers:
- Not practical
Biophysical Model (a.k.a. Biomedical Model)
Basic Assumptions:
4. Prenatal, Perinatal, and Postnatal Influences
5. Environmental Contributions:
Interventions and Treatments:
prescribing medicine:
stimulant medications - ADHD
Psychotropic medications: used to treat mental health disorders
Unproven Interventions:
- Atypical behavior is a result of either biological makeup or some type of organic dysfunction that is inherent to the individual
- Genetic Disorders:
- schizophrenic
- ADHD
- depression
- reading disorders
- bipolar disorders
- Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21)
- Trisomy 18
- Trisomy 5
- self-injurious behavior
- children with Autism and Developmental Disabilities
4. Prenatal, Perinatal, and Postnatal Influences
- maternal substance abuse
- nutrition
- viral infections
- exposure to toxic substances
- maternal emotional problems
- low birth weight
- anoxia (oxygen depravation)
- brain hemorrhaging during birth
5. Environmental Contributions:
- schizophrenia
- ADHD
- Autism
- General Learning & Behavior Disabilities
Interventions and Treatments:
prescribing medicine:
- hyperactivity
- inattention
- aggression
- self-injurious behavior
- depression
- bipolar disorder
- anxiety disorders
- Tourette syndrome
stimulant medications - ADHD
Psychotropic medications: used to treat mental health disorders
- antidepressants (Prozac, Paxil, Luvox, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Effexor)
- antipsychotics (Clozaril, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Risperda)
- antianxiety (Xanax, BuSpar, Librium)
Unproven Interventions:
- Dietary interventions: speculated ADHD was the result of food allergies (Dr. Benjamin Feingold). As treatment, he recommended a highly restrictive diet that was designed to eliminate artificial food colorings and flavorings, food preservatives, and naturally occurring salicylates
- Biofeedback: children are taught self-calming techniques and are instructed to use those techniques to maintain levels of brain wave activity or muscle tension within a predetermined low range
- Sensory Integration Therapy: restructure and integrate sensory input (ex. swings, scooters, weighted vests and blankets)
Behavioral Model
Basic Assumptions:
- A person's past learning and biological makeup affect current behavior
- All voluntary behavior, both appropriate and inappropriate, is governed by the same principles
- Behavior serves a purpose
- Behavior is related to the environment in which it occurs