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Theoretical and experimental bases of the behaviour therapies
450
BOOK REVIEWS
M. P. FELDMAN and A. BROADHURST (Eds.). Theorrticul and Expwiwr~tal Buses of the Brhmiour John Wiley and Sons, London and New York (1976). xiv + 459 pp. &I 2.00; $26.40.
Therupirs.
This volume consists of a collection of original articles which review the experimental and theoretical bases of the behaviour therapies. There are four sections: biological psychology; the psychology of learning; social psychology and the psychology of decision making; theoretical, methodological and ethical issues. The major importance of the book lies in its extension of the scientific bases of behaviour therapy beyond the theory of learning. The editors stress the need for links between all areas of experimental psychology and clinical work. The first section consists of chapters by Gray and Venables. The former presents the author’s most recent views on the processes which may underlie the susceptibility to develop dysthymic disorders; it includes reports of much as yet unpublished data. The latter chapter considers the problems associated with the use of psychophysiological techniques in the field of behaviour modification. The second section is perhaps the least original but presents useful chapters on classical conditioning, instrumental learning, and operant conditioning, together with an interesting chapter by Hogg on the experimental analysis of retarded behaviour and its relation to normal development. Section three begins with a chapter by Rachman on the therapeutic implications of studies of observational learning. imitation. and modelling; it includes a useful table summarizing experiments on therapeutic modelling from 1967.-75. The chapter deals in detail with both practical and theoretical aspects of studies in this area. The second chapter in this section, by Feldman, considers a hitherto neglected area, the relevance of the theoretical and experimental literature of social psychology for behaviour therapy. The author suggests that social influence processes may enhance the efficiency of formal therapeutic procedures, rather than provide a complete account of them. The chapter includes a review of studies of attitude formation and change. and a fascinating discussion of the possible relevance of cognitive dissonance theory for behaviour in a clinical setting. This chapter is followed by one by Anne Broadhurst on the applications of the psychology of decisions to behaviour therapy. Again, it is an area of experimental psychology which has had relatively little influence on clinical procedures. The author presents a convincing case for an increased appreciation of this area in relation to clinical research and practice. The section ends with a chapter by R. and B. Lanyon on behavioural assessment and decision making; it is an overview of the process of designing strategies for therapeutic behaviour change. The final section is devoted to theoretical, methodological, and ethical issues in the behaviour therapies. It begins with an entertaining chapter by Eysenck on ‘Behaviour Therapy: Dogma or Applied Science?‘. He argues convincingly that criticisms of behaviour therapy as an applied science are based on an out-dated and simplistic view of science. The chapter includes an important excerpt from the writings of the Hungarian philosopher Lakatos, whose views on the philosophy of science combine those of Popper and Kuhn. The second chapter in this section, by Cochrane and Sobol, examines the kinds of questions being asked in behaviour therapy research, methods of research, and how closely such research follows accepted criteria for scientific respectability. It emphasizes the frequency of analogue studies and the absence of some of the most important categories of psychological disturbance from problems to which behaviour therapy research has been applied. The reference sections of the papers studied indicated only limited reference to the findings of experimental psychology. The chapter emphasizes the need for greater specification of patient and therapist variables in such research, and discusses in detail the problems of experimental design in these investigations. The final chapter in the book, by Feldman, is a detailed consideration of both the ethical and legal problems in the relationship between behaviour therapists and society. The general standard of contributions is extremely high; 11 certainly succeeds in Its main aim of providing further links between experimental psychology and behaviour therapy. It is important reading for all clinical psychologists and deserves to become a major text book for training programmes. D. R. HEMSLEY
BOOK REVIEWS
M. P. FELDMAN and A. BROADHURST (Eds.). Theorrticul and Expwiwr~tal Buses of the Brhmiour John Wiley and Sons, London and New York (1976). xiv + 459 pp. &I 2.00; $26.40.
Therupirs.
This volume consists of a collection of original articles which review the experimental and theoretical bases of the behaviour therapies. There are four sections: biological psychology; the psychology of learning; social psychology and the psychology of decision making; theoretical, methodological and ethical issues. The major importance of the book lies in its extension of the scientific bases of behaviour therapy beyond the theory of learning. The editors stress the need for links between all areas of experimental psychology and clinical work. The first section consists of chapters by Gray and Venables. The former presents the author’s most recent views on the processes which may underlie the susceptibility to develop dysthymic disorders; it includes reports of much as yet unpublished data. The latter chapter considers the problems associated with the use of psychophysiological techniques in the field of behaviour modification. The second section is perhaps the least original but presents useful chapters on classical conditioning, instrumental learning, and operant conditioning, together with an interesting chapter by Hogg on the experimental analysis of retarded behaviour and its relation to normal development. Section three begins with a chapter by Rachman on the therapeutic implications of studies of observational learning. imitation. and modelling; it includes a useful table summarizing experiments on therapeutic modelling from 1967.-75. The chapter deals in detail with both practical and theoretical aspects of studies in this area. The second chapter in this section, by Feldman, considers a hitherto neglected area, the relevance of the theoretical and experimental literature of social psychology for behaviour therapy. The author suggests that social influence processes may enhance the efficiency of formal therapeutic procedures, rather than provide a complete account of them. The chapter includes a review of studies of attitude formation and change. and a fascinating discussion of the possible relevance of cognitive dissonance theory for behaviour in a clinical setting. This chapter is followed by one by Anne Broadhurst on the applications of the psychology of decisions to behaviour therapy. Again, it is an area of experimental psychology which has had relatively little influence on clinical procedures. The author presents a convincing case for an increased appreciation of this area in relation to clinical research and practice. The section ends with a chapter by R. and B. Lanyon on behavioural assessment and decision making; it is an overview of the process of designing strategies for therapeutic behaviour change. The final section is devoted to theoretical, methodological, and ethical issues in the behaviour therapies. It begins with an entertaining chapter by Eysenck on ‘Behaviour Therapy: Dogma or Applied Science?‘. He argues convincingly that criticisms of behaviour therapy as an applied science are based on an out-dated and simplistic view of science. The chapter includes an important excerpt from the writings of the Hungarian philosopher Lakatos, whose views on the philosophy of science combine those of Popper and Kuhn. The second chapter in this section, by Cochrane and Sobol, examines the kinds of questions being asked in behaviour therapy research, methods of research, and how closely such research follows accepted criteria for scientific respectability. It emphasizes the frequency of analogue studies and the absence of some of the most important categories of psychological disturbance from problems to which behaviour therapy research has been applied. The reference sections of the papers studied indicated only limited reference to the findings of experimental psychology. The chapter emphasizes the need for greater specification of patient and therapist variables in such research, and discusses in detail the problems of experimental design in these investigations. The final chapter in the book, by Feldman, is a detailed consideration of both the ethical and legal problems in the relationship between behaviour therapists and society. The general standard of contributions is extremely high; 11 certainly succeeds in Its main aim of providing further links between experimental psychology and behaviour therapy. It is important reading for all clinical psychologists and deserves to become a major text book for training programmes. D. R. HEMSLEY