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SOC-386 Topic 4: Behavioral and Cognitive Theory Worksheet and AnalysisDirections: There are two parts to this assignment. Part 1 is to complete the chart. Part 2 is a brief analytical narrative summary.Part 1: Theory Overview ChartDirections: Provide a brief overview of each of the following theories in the box next to the theory. List what you view as the key components of each theory.TheoryOverview and Key Component of the TheoryBehavioral Learning TheoryFocus: how behavior is influenced/regulated by environmental conditionsRadical or stimulus-response: views environmental control as acting directly on an individual’s behaviorMethodological or stimulus-organism-response: environmental-behavioral relationships are mediated by an individual’s symbolic or cognitive processes. Behavioral modification resolves problems.Humans are reactive to their environment and the personality is the sum of learned behaviors.Classical conditioning and operant conditioning.Reinforcement and punishmentShaping: gradual process of achieving desired behavior through series of steps(Dale & Smith, 2013)Social Learning TheoryPeople learn vicariously through othersThey observe people and imitate themWhen people observe someone acting in a certain way and see reinforcement they like, they are more likely to choose that behaviorModeling (vicarious learning)Emphasizes the role of cognition in the learning process: thoughts about behavior and reinforcements explain motivation(Dale & Smith, 2013)Cognitive Behavioral TheoryIntegrates mental events (thoughts and feelings) into the empirical behavior frameworkCombines behavior theory and cognitive theory, leading to a more complex view of the learning processThoughts influence emotions and behaviors, and behavior can influence emotions and thoughtsGoal: change how people think, which prompts new choices and behaviors, which causes different ways of thinking and feelingIdentifying negative automatic thoughts and thought patterns and reshaping themDesensitizationGoal-oriented and solving problemsHomework(Langer & Lietz, 2015)Cognitive Development TheoryKnowing and the development of cognitive structures are shaped by the interaction between the individual and the environment.Cognition develops through fixed and invariant stages. People of different ages think differently (children vs. adults)Piaget’s four stages: sensorimotor intelligence (birth-18 months), preoperational thought (18 months-7), concrete operational thought (7-12), formal operational thought (adolescence-adulthood)Schema: existence of a structure or representation of reality in memoryAssimilation: integrating new experiences and objects into existing schemaAccommodation: adjust schema to fit new experiences or informationOrganization: individuals will try to build order and coherence in their schema(Dale & Smith, 2013)Moral Development TheoryStudy stages humans go through in developing their sense of right and wrong (morals)Linked to cognitive development, focused on processes associated with moral reasoning and ethics of their behaviorHow children deal with moral issues and dilemmas, and the thought patterns that led to conclusionsLevels (6 stages): preconventional morality (transition from selfish to self-sacrifice), conventional morality (transition from goodness to truth), postconventional morality (value self and others, do no harm)(Dale & Smith, 2013)Humanistic TheoryFocus on strengths and the orientation toward human potentialDeterminism—people have choicesValue the client, and respect their uniqueness, life experience, and choiceFocuses on wholenessHumankind is different from animals—humans have inner drive toward self-fulfillment (human potential movement)Maslow’s needs hierarchy: survival, safety and security, social belonging, self-esteem, self-actualization. Lower need must be met first. First four are deficiency needs, and self-actualization is a meta or growth need—transcends basic needs to deal with the capacity of a person to become all they can be(Dale & Smith, 2013)Person-Centered TheoryHolistic approachPromote self-actualization. Goal is to be authentic and be “real self”Fully functioning person has five traits: openness to experience, existential living (living in the present), organismic trusting (engaging “real self”), experiential freedom (make choices and take responsibility), creativity. Denial and perceptual distortion are two defenses.Congruence—genuineness and honestyEmpathy—feel what client feelsRespect—acceptance and unconditional positive regard(Dale & Smith, 2013)Part 2: Brief Analysis and SummaryDirections: In a 300- to 500-word brief analysis, discuss whether you prefer the process models of behavioral theorists or the stage models of psychoanalytic theory discussed in Topic 3.Which theoretical model do you most identify with in your role as a generalist social worker? Why?After reviewing these two different types of models, I prefer the process models of behavioral theorists over the stage models of psychoanalytic theory. With psychoanalytic theory, the focus is much more on the unconscious thoughts and development of people and many broad concepts are discussed. In behavioral and cognitive theories, there is more concrete approaches of how to help people make real change in their lives. Many of the cognitive and behavioral theories focus on changing thoughts, behaviors, or both, so that people can improve themselves. Overall, the cognitive and behavioral theories are also a lot more positive. They also tend focus on finding solutions and moving toward the future, rather than dwelling on the current problems someone is facing. Many of these theories also view the therapeutic relationship between the social worker and the client as a partnership (Dale & Smith, 2013). They take the client’s autonomy and self-determination into account, which are important ethical principles (National Association, 2017). I prefer the newer behavioral and cognitive theories to the older psychoanalytic theories, which have a more outdated way of thinking.The theoretical model that I most identify with in my role as a generalist social worker is cognitive behavioral theory. This theory combines cognitive theory and behavioral theory, which creates a more complex view of the learning process. This more complex view allows for the implementation of more interventions to be applied in social work. This theory focuses on changing harmful and distorted thought patterns and shape them into more positive and healthy thought patterns. Changed thoughts change behaviors, which in turn, changes thoughts and feelings. Overall, this creates more lasting changes in a person’s life. I also like that this theory is goal-oriented and focuses on finding practical solutions that will actually work for each individual client. This approach has proven to be effective in treating a wide range of issues, including depression, anxiety disorders, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among other mental health disorders (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2017). Cognitive-behavioral theory is a helpful theory in social work.ReferencesDale, O., & Smith, R. (2013). Human behavior and the social environment: Social systems theory. Boston, MA: Pearson.Langer, C. L., & Lietz, C. (2015). Applying theory to generalist social work practice. John Wiley & Sons.Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Cognitive behavioral therapy. Retrieved from Association of Social Workers. (2017). Code of ethics. Retrieved from ................
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