Personal Theoretical Orientation - Research Paper Example

Personal Theoretical Orientation Operant conditioning is a mode of learning that describes human being as an operating unit which responds to the external responses. Skinner believed that human beings learn by operating in their environment, and he linked acquisition of a particular behavior with it outcome. This is to say that organisms tend to acquire those acts which pay back, and refrain from the ones that penalize. Behaviorist school of thought appears to be the most objective oriented, and perhaps it is the only paradigm in psychology that offers empirical design (Schwartz, 1989). It not only provides a strong theory, or defines its terms, but it offers strong experimental evidence with reproducible results. If one closely looks into Skinner’s theory, one will find that he has exploited the universal principle of reward and punishment to describe human nature. Analysis of our surroundings give us several daily life examples of Skinner’s view, just consider a mother telling her child to complete his homework on time, and then he will be allowed to watch his favorite cartoon show after that; or just consider the job packages and bonuses set by the companies to motivate their employees to achieve the objectives and gain bonus. Operant conditioning is exhibited in how children learn to adjust in society, they observe their elders in manner to determine how to deal with people, how to act in particular situation, therefore, psychologists often ask parents to avoid quarrels at home, and refrain from domestic violence especially in front of their children, because these observers may hate the sound or image of violence but they continuously learning these acts, and there is a possibility that they might repeat these actions at school or in play grounds (Spielberger & DeNike, 1966). Factors affecting human behavior There are several factors that contribute towards how an individual behaves. They include personal state, learning, external stimulus, social aspects, and biochemical physiology. By personal state it refers to the preoccupation of human mind, for instance whether a person is thinking about the current situation or has something else on mind, this can be put simply as how focused an individual is. Moreover personal state refers to emotional state as well, for instance when a person is feeling sad, he might not laugh at others’ jokes (Grossberg, 1964). Learning is directly linked with human behavior, in this case all sources of acquisition could be considered, there can be certain situation where a person has developed patterns of classical conditioning, like running towards the door, when someone knocks at it. In case of operant conditioning, whenever a person finds an alarming situation he tends to refrain from that act, for instance on touching a hot plate a person would quickly withdraw his hand, and will try not to touch it again (Schwartz, 1989). Social learning is how a person manages in situations similar to those that he has experienced before, like how to act at a funeral, what to say to a stranger or a shopkeeper. External world is the main reason that causes fluctuation or variation in human behavior, for instance finding an old friend in crowd, or being locked up in a room with one of your worst enemies. Human behavior varies with stimuli and intensity of signal. Perhaps it will not be wrong to say that man learns from his environment. Biochemistry is also important in determining human behavior, because the variation hormonal levels in the blood could induce a person to act in a particular way, for instance surge of adrenaline changes the body language of a person. Too much testosterone may force an individual to act outrageously. Release of serotonin makes one feel happy and light. All these hormones and many others modify an individual’s behavior. Solution Focused Therapy For most part of the twentieth century, psychologists aimed at unveiling the causes that lead to abnormal behavior. They wanted to determine the cause, and then by focusing on the root cause they would offer a solution or postulate a possible mechanism for undoing it. This approach demanded psychologists to go through the life history of their patients, and to compare their cases with previously reported cases, moreover, this approach required a lot of time, and since success of these therapies depended on several factor, the efficiency of this approach was always put to question (Bannink, 2007). For instance if one considers the psychoanalytical point of view of dealing with abnormal behavior, one will have to decipher the subconscious of a patients, deciphering abstract entities is always looked with suspicion in the era of scientific research framework. Similarly, if someone tries to find solution through humanistic way, one will have to undermine the possible potentials in an individual, and then it will raise the question of needs that were never fulfilled and prevented an individual from self-actualization. Unlike their predecessors who pondered over resolving hidden conflicts, de Shazer and Berg came out with the “Brief Therapy” also known as the Solution Focused Therapy. They proposed that it is not necessary to undo or to solve problematic cause to invoke positive behavior in an individual. In other words this therapy is not a problem solving therapy; rather it is a solution finding therapy (Bannink, 2007). Therapists who practice Solution Focused Therapy, offer several arguments in favor of it, the first one is very obvious and that is it saves time, the second most common argument in the favor of this therapy is that it focuses on behavior perhaps the only measure to determine human insight or personality, last but not the least this approach is aimed towards betterment of the individuals who have problems in recalling their past due to memory loss or because it is unpleasant. Usually people who show abnormal behavior are those who tend to resist the change, and when a therapist looks at this question keeping in mind the resistance, he is more likely to acquire a position of a dictator who orders his patient, what to do, and what not to; contrary to this de Shazer supports the use of cooperative conduct, where the therapist is supposed to take his patient along, instead of leading the client into an uncomforted zone. The proper implementation of solution focus therapy is very important, and communication between the patient and therapist remains a key feature that determines success. Solution focused therapy takes its essence from social constructionism which suggest that the idea of what is real is acquired by people through social exchange via communication. Therefore, it is impending on the therapist to ease out the mode of communication with his client, and to put him into the driving seat where that client is able to picture or describe the future that he wants to have. Development of an idea of bright future may not solve the issue for the client but for the therapist it is the first milestone towards success. The way a patient pictures his desired future does not require any direct or indirect link with current or past crisis that might have been a major cause for the present mental state of the client. The purpose of this therapy is not to solve the behavioral abnormalities of past or present, rather the therapist in this therapy is bound to make his client look for alternate modes of action that may lead to much pleasant outcomes, and would help the client in acquiring what he has desired. Moreover, by finding alternates it does not mean that the therapist would ask the client to develop or learn or unlearn a particular behavior, rather it means that the client already has that habit or behavior inbuilt in him, and all he needs to do it to start put it into practice more often than normal. Solution Focused Therapy for Couples/Family Love and trust are two defining features of a healthy relationship, and absence of one or both may lead to the end of it. Couples who usually reach for psychological assistance are mostly those who are facing issues regarding trust or lack of affection towards each other. They usually claim that they do not feel like carrying forward their marriage the way they used to feel about it earlier (Barker & Chang, 2013). As mentioned earlier the purpose of solution focused therapy is to look for alternate ways of coping with situations, and to discover the behavior already present within an individual. So, in this case solution focused therapy tries to develop the fractured trust and the lost love, which was once there in the early days of life. Same is the case with estranged relationships between siblings, who were once best friends and then turned into each other’s enemies. Therapist tries to bring up those emotions and feeling within the siblings that are present yet dormant (Spielberger & DeNike, 1966). Parents who find hard to manage their youthful offspring may also ask for help from these therapists, but in this case therapists have to deal with all the family members individually, and focus on the grounds that could lead to desired future of harmonious co-existence. Protocol 1. Making the Client Feel Comfortable: Communication is the key to solution focused therapy, the therapist must know how to deliver it to the client, and moreover, he needs to listen more than to tell. 2. Describing the Problem: The therapist must try to shape the communication in such a way that it leads to the point that the client explains the problems he or she or both in case of couples are facing by themselves; moreover, the therapist must try to make the client to mention the importance or intensity of the problem that is being faced; another important set of questions in this session deals with coping or finding alternates. 3. Setting-up Goals: It is the duty of the therapist to make his or her client express their future desires, or things they want to achieve from the relationship. 4. Team Analysis: After acquiring the information from the client, therapist can opt to discuss the matter with other team members, or analyze the whole situation by himself, but he or she must ensure attending all the details that are provided to him by his client. Concluding: This is the stage when it’s time for the therapist to announce his results to the client, but these outcomes should be expressed in such a language that it does not hurt the emotions or feelings of the clients. References Bannink, F. P. (2007). Solution-focused brief therapy. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 87-94. Barker, P., & Chang, J. (2013). Basic family therapy. . John Wiley & Sons. Grossberg, J. M. (1964). (1964). Behavior therapy: A review. Psychological Bulletin, 73. Schwartz, B. (1989). Psychology of learning and behavior . WW Norton & Co. Spielberger, C. D., & DeNike, L. D. (1966). Descriptive behaviorism versus cognitive theory in verbal operant conditioning. Psychological Review, 306. Read More