Models of Human Nature and Therapeutic Change

Biological (Medical) Model

• The mind’s activity depends on the brain whose composition is genetically determined
• Still acknowledge influences of environment and learning
• Genetic influences on anxiety and depression
• Brain structure different in individuals with schizophrenia- process information differently
• Therapy: Pharmacological treatments (medication)

Behavioural Model

• Focuses on what people do rather than on brain structures and/or chemistry
• Behaviour is analyzed in terms of stimulus, response, and reinforcement.

o   Their fear, their response to the fear, experience of relief leads to reinforcing the response to that certain fear.

• The aim is to discover what reinforcements sustain and undesirable behavior and then to alter those reinforcements.
• Therapy: Exposure

• • Behavior results from complex attitudes, expectations, and motives rather than simple reinforcements.
  • Individuals are taught to substitute their unrealistic thoughts with realistic ones and to test their assumptions.
  • Therapy:
  • • Emphasizes thoughts as well as unconscious emotions, ideas, and impulses
    • Emphasizes the role of the past in shaping the present.
    • Therapies: Interpersonal, humanistic, existential, experiential

      Psychodynamic Model

  • Typically emphasizes exposure as well as changing problematic patterns of thinking
  • Typically involve- 10 individual or group sessions with a therapist plus homework
  • Has been shown to produce significant improvements
  • Has been combined with drug therapy

Cognitive Model

“Seeks to make conscious that which is unconscious.”

William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)

William completed his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in 2013. He current serves as a lecturer, tutor and freelance writer. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, walking his dog and parasailing. Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2024 | Creative Commons 4.0

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