Behavioural Psychology is a branch of Psychology that focuses on the study and alteration of people’s behaviour, including their actions, emotions and thoughts. This branch, also known as behaviourism, relies on the theory that mental and emotional disorders can be improved through behaviour modifying techniques.
Behavioural psychology has been influenced by …show more content…
D.Sc was born in South Africa and is best known for his work on “Systematic desensitization”. He received his medical degree in 1939 from University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. He is one of the leading practitioners of behaviour therapy.
Theory: In “Systematic desensitization” he paired relaxation and imaging of anxiety provoking situations, in order to alleviate patterns of maladaptive anxiety. Metaphorically speaking a person has become “allergic” to a certain situation and has developed troublesome anxiety or avoidance mechanisms (symptoms). Desensitization is the slow imaginal recalling (inoculation) by the client of the past allergy producing situation while in a relaxed physical state in order to develop a tolerance or immunity to the original allergy.
Contribution : Systematic desensitisation is being using extensively in hypnotherapy for the treatment of various types of allergies and conditions similar to allergies. Also based on Wolpe’s experiments, Thomas Stampfi (1967) developed ‘flooding’ a therapeutic intervention in the treatment of phobias and anxiety disorders and also post –traumatic stress