Chapter 7
Covert Behavioral Methods for
Changing Respondent
Behavior
Relaxation
• relaxation is a state of reduced physiological
arousal
• relaxation may make one more alert
• relaxation requires some training
Relaxation Training
• can be used independently to reduce fears and
other anxiety-based disorders
• can be used in conjunction with procedures like
systematic desensitization
• should follow a routine schedule
• should be conducted in a comfortable setting
• should be viewed as practice
• should be faded
Relaxation Techniques:
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
• progressive muscle relaxation requires the
individual to systematically tense and relax the
major muscle groups of the body
• first described by Jacobson (1938); subsequently
revised
• training may have long-term positive effects
• training requires attention to feelings of tension
and relaxation
Progressive Muscle
Relaxation Training
• instruct the individual to sit in a comfortable
position with eyes closed
• identify a muscle group and instruct the individual
to tense those muscles
• instruct individual to attend to feelings associated
with tension
• instruct individual to relax those muscles
Progressive Muscle
Relaxation Training (continued)
• instruct individual to attend to the relaxed feelings
in those muscles
• repeat for other muscle groups
• instruct individual to attend to relaxing thoughts
and feelings
Relaxation Techniques:
Autogenic Training
• autogenic training requires the individual to
imagine relaxing situations and feelings
• first defined by Shultz (1957)
• relatively time-consuming (shorter versions may
be as effective)
• may be preferred over progressive relaxation when
medical conditions preclude tensing muscles
Autogenic Training Procedures
• encourage adoption of a relaxed attitude
• instruct individual to focus on different parts of
the body
• attribute relaxing feelings to those parts using
themes such as warmth
• allow changes to evolve naturally
• encourage individual to identify and focus on a
personally calming scene
Relaxation Techniques:
Mediation
• meditation involves a focusing of attention or
contemplation
• meditation procedures may take various forms
• training also may help focusing of thought
• training also may serve to detach individual from
emotion or pain
Meditation Procedures
• encourage individual to focus attention
• thoughts are often directed at a meditation
stimulus
– a simple visual pattern or object can be viewed
in a nonanalytical way
– an auditory mantra can be chanted
– the process of breathing can serve as the focus
• instruct individual gently to refocus when
attention wanders
Relaxation Techniques:
Rapid Relaxation Induction
teach relaxation methods that allow for rapid
relaxation as supplements to the standard
techniques
• may be a shortened version of a standard
technique
• does not replace standard techniques
• does not induce as deep a state of relaxation as
other techniques
Relaxation Techniques:
Rapid Relaxation Induction
(continued)
• must be mastered
• must be used in anticipation of stress or fear
Enhancing Rapid Relaxation
• use verbal cues like "relax" or meditative mantras
• paying attention to breathing
• imagining calm scenes of settings where relaxed
feelings have occurred
Covert Conditioning
covert conditioning involves imagined associations
that allow for learning without overt experience
• attributed to Cautela (1966)
• procedures may not be as effective as overt
counterparts
• procedures may be used when it is difficult or
dangerous to use overt procedures
Covert Conditioning Procedures
• covert sensitization creates an aversion through
imagination
• covert positive reinforcement overcomes
phobias by associating fear with pleasant
experiences
• other covert procedures include:
– imagined models
– extinction
– punishment
– covert use of other behavioral treatments
Cognitive-Behavioral
Coping Techniques
• positive and negative self-statements are things
we say about our perceived abilities and outcomes
of our behavior
• coping statements are things we say that
characterize how well we think we will tolerate
what we see as an unpleasant situation
Cognitive-Behavioral
Coping Techniques (continued)
• coping statement interventions train individuals to
use positive statements
• reinterpretative statements offer arguments why
a situation may be less unpleasant
• reinterpretative statements work only if they are
believable
Thought Stopping
• thought stopping procedures require the
individual to interrupt or eliminate unwanted
antecedent thoughts
• typically, the word stop is asserted either overtly
or covertly when the individual becomes aware of
a targeted unwanted thought
• thought stopping has been used with thoughts
associated with loss and depression
Thought Stopping (continued)
• thought stopping has been used with antecedents
to unwanted habits
• evidence on the effectiveness of thought stopping
is equivocal
Distraction
• distraction procedures encourage a shift in
attention from an unpleasant stimulus to a pleasant
or neutral stimulus
• distraction works best with mild stress
Tips on Using Covert
Behavioral Methods
• prefer in vivo stimuli
• avoid relaxation training that might cause
discomfort
• prescribe a schedule for relaxation training to
minimize skipped sessions
• use relaxation tapes when possible
• prefer relaxation environments that are quiet and
dimly lit
Tips on Using Covert
Behavioral Methods (continued)
• if your mind drifts from the relaxation task, simply
refocus
• use rapid relaxation only after mastering standard
techniques
• assess state of relaxation to determine how fast to
progress through relaxation training
Tips on Using Covert
Behavioral Methods (continued)
• avoid relaxing scenes that are emotionally laden
• seek clear visual scenes when using imaginal
approaches
• select reasonable and believable positive selfstatements