Critique and Reformulation of “Learning-Theory” Approaches to Psychotherapy and Neurosis

Breger, Louis; McGaugh, James L.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-3000-4_4

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 37 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Although both approaches have been roundly criticized (e.g.. Bergin, 1963;Breger & McGaugh, 1965: Evsenck, 1976Locke, 1971;Rachman, 1976Rachman, , 1977Rachman & Seligman, 1976;Rachmaii & Wilson, 1980;Seligman, 1971) there exists a large experimental literature that seems to support the effectiveness of therapeutic techniques developed from learning-based models. This point is primary for those interested in delivering effective treatment.…”

Section: Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress-induced recovery of fears and phobias.

Jacobs¹,

Nadel

1985

Psychological Review

296

165

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Accounts of human fears and phobias based on current conditioning models using data from adults are examined and found wanting. Instead, the characteristics of human phobias resemble the kind of learning found during the amnesic period of infancy. As certain neural systems mature, conditioning begins to exhibit adult characteristics: context dependency, sharp generalization, and rapid extinction. Although direct behavioral control by the early learning systems wanes, the adult learning system seems to be structured at least/partially through the lasting influence of infantile experience. Under (hormonal) stress, residues of early experience are reinstated and incorporated into adult memory where they directly control behavior. This control exhibits infantile characteristics. The evidence suggests that once acquired, such conditional fears might never be eliminated using traditional extinction or counterconditioning procedures. The view leads to a renewed emphasis upon the role of experience in human development, accepting the disproportionate importance of infant experience as the foundation upon which subsequent learning and cognitive function rest.It is plain from clinical experience that certain patients experience critical incidents in which the fear has an onset. What is particularly interesting is the fact that quite frequently these same people have been exposed to the same stimulus repeatedly in the past without acquiring the fear. It seems that for acute onset fears, there are certain psychological states in which the person is vulnerable to the acquisition of fears. To take a clinical example, in those agoraphobic patients who report an acute onset of fear, one needs to know why the fear arose on the day that it did, at the time that it did. And why do they acquire a fear of public transport, crowded or open spaces, or whatever the content of their phobia, when on hundreds or thousands The first author acknowledges the fundamental contributions of David Furrow, Scon Mendelson, Michael Buttrick.

show abstract

Section: Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress-induced recovery of fears and phobias.

Jacobs¹,

Nadel

1985

Psychological Review

296

165

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…But the article was read with relish by partisans of the rising field of cognitive psychology, who embraced it as a kind of Emancipation Proclamation, a justification for rejecting the methodological constraints of behaviorism. Other critiques of behaviorism soon appeared (e.g., Breger & McGaugh, 1965;Koch, 1964;Miller, Galanter, & Pribram, 1960). Chomsky's review became just the most prominent symbol of the emergence of a new paradigm in psychology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On Chomsky’s appraisal of Skinner’s Verbal Behavior: A half century of misunderstanding

Palmer

2006

BEHAV ANALYST

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The history of the writing of Verbal Behavior (Skinner, 1957), Chomsky's review (1959, and MacCorquodale's rebuttal (1970) are briefly summarized. Chomsky's recent reflections on his review are analyzed: Chomsky's refusal to acknowledge the review's errors or its aggressive tone is consistent with his polemical style but comes at a minor cost in consistency and plausibility. However, his remarks about the place of Skinner's work in science reveal misunderstandings so great that they undercut the credibility of the review substantially. The gradual growth in the influence of Skinner's book suggests that its legacy will endure.

show abstract

“…is free from cognitive concepts such as expectancies" (p. 55) and my mistake is confirmed by a quote from Mackintosh (1974). The succinct and incisive rebuttal by Rachman and Eysenck (1966) to Breger and McGaugh's (1965) claim that the concept of expectancy is central to learning and behavior therapy, cannot, I think, be improved upon:…”

mentioning

confidence: 95%

Correspondence

Ledwidge

1981

Behav. Psychother.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Critique and Reformulation of “Learning-Theory” Approaches to Psychotherapy and Neurosis

Cited by 9 publications

References 37 publications

Stress-induced recovery of fears and phobias.

Stress-induced recovery of fears and phobias.

On Chomsky’s appraisal of Skinner’s Verbal Behavior: A half century of misunderstanding

Correspondence

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About