Physiology and Behavior Therapy

Despite the widespread use of psychophysiological concepts and meth­ ods in behavior therapy, there is no text devoted specifically to the subject. The publication of this book is necessary and timely, and should promote a better appreciation of the physiological roots of behavior therapy. The important connections between physiology and behavior thera­ py receive insufficient recognition nowadays, despite the fact that his­ torically one of the two main streams of behavior therapy grew out of a physiological basis. Wolpe's early work was closely connected to phys­ iology, and in contemporary behavior therapy, Lang's critical contribu­ tion is firmly based in psychophysiology. The physiological component is prominent in Lang's highly productive three-systems analysis of emo­ tion and in its application to psychological disorders. In addition, there are philosophical reasons for maintaining the close connection between behavior therapy and physiology. The existence of these connections, and their justification, can raise few objections, and it is therefore curious that a book on this significant subject has not appeared earlier. The importance of physiology for behavior therapy can be illus­ trated by considering the nature of a behavior therapy deprived of its physiological connections. It would survive, certainly, but as a rather scrawny, uninteresting orphan among many clamorous competitors.

Contenu

I: Preliminary Concepts.- 1: Physiological Control.- An Example.- Levels of Control.- Segmental Control.- Local Control.- Central Control.- The Organization of Behavior.- The Case of John Hunter.- Conscious versus Unconscious Control.- Understanding Our Behavior.- Recommended Reading.- 2: Physiological Systems.- Homeostasis.- Major Functional Systems.- The Internal Environment.- The External Environment.- Characteristics of Control Systems.- Set Points.- Negative Feedback.- Positive Feedback.- Gain of a Control System.- Automaticity.- Systems Thinking.- Complexity of the World.- The Square Law of Computation.- The Science of Simplification.- The Systems Approach.- An Example of Systems Thinking.- Recommended Readings.- 3: Central Nervous System.- The Triune Brain.- Structure and Function of the Central Nervous System.- Overall Organization of the CNS.- The Neural Chassis.- The Reptilian Brain.- The Paleomammalian Brain.- The Neomammalian Brain.- Functional Systems of the CNS.- Summary.- Recommended Readings.- II: Basic Issues.- 4: Nature and Nurture.- The Equipotentiality Premise.- The Preparedness Hypothesis.- Criticisms of the Preparedness Hypothesis.- Instinct and Human Behavior.- Ethology.- Instinct.- Behavior as a System.- Recommended Reading.- 5: Triple Modes of Responding.- The Triple Modes.- Motoric Mode.- Physiological (Autonomic) Mode.- Cognitive Mode.- Summary.- Criticisms of the Triple Modes.- Triple Modes Assessment.- Self-Report.- Observation.- Instrumentation.- Summary and a Word of Caution.- Implications for Treatment.- Mode by Treatment Interactions.- Clinical Examples.- Problems with Anger Control.- Depression in the Elderly.- Recommended Readings.- 6: Biofeedback.- Biofeedback.- Definition.- Applications.- G. E. Schwartz's Disregulation Model.- Mechanisms of Control.- Shared Mechanisms.- Mediational Mechanisms.- An Example of Mediational Control.- Physiological Limits.- Interoceptive Awareness.- Voluntary Control.- Clinical Implications.- Summary.- Recommended Readings.- 7: Emotion.- The Triple Modes of Emotion.- Levels of Analysis.- The Biological (Physiological/Autonomic) Level.- The Psychological (Cognitive) Level.- The Sociocultural (Motoric) Level.- The Zajonc-Lazarus Debate.- What Is Cognition?.- Clinical Implications.- Emotion as a System.- Recommended Readings.- III: Clinical Applications.- 8: Anxiety.- Diagnosis.- Medical Conditions Presenting with Anxiety Symptoms.- Functional Diagnosis.- Triple Modes of Anxiety.- Treatment Strategies.- An Example: Test Anxiety.- Recommended Reading.- 9: Depression.- Diagnosis.- Diagnostic Issues.- DSM-III Diagnosis.- Incidence.- Triple Modes of Depression.- Suicide and Parasuicide.- Treatment Strategies.- Etiological Models.- Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions.- Depression as a System.- Recommended Readings.- 10: Physiology and Behavior Therapy.- Behavior Therapy.- Definition.- Eclecticism.- Integrative Strengths.- Integrative Problems.- Behavioral Medicine.- Modalities.- Interventions.- Interactions.- John Hunter: A Reprise.- Initial Stages of Treatment.- Assessment.- Treatment.- Evaluation and Follow-Up.- Summary.- Recommended Readings.- References.- Author Index.