SAMENVATTING PREVENTION
+ EXAM QUESTIONS PSY3392
2024/2025 minor AMIP
,Task 1: From crazy house to CBT
Source: Lecture Fleur Domensino
Psychotherapy= Psychological treatment= “Any psychological service provided by a
trained professional that primarily uses forms of communication and interaction to
assess, diagnose, and treat dysfunctional emotional reactions, ways of thinking, and
behavior patterns.”→ “Talk therapy”
Talk therapy= also called psychotherapy, refers to a variety of treatments that aim to
help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
• Talk therapy existed decades before lecture Freud→ mind cures (Christian
Science and New Thought movement→ two practices that attempted to use the
mind to cure illness and improve the quality of life
Source: Wampold, Psychotherapy Theory: The Historical Context
Historical milestones (wampold+lecture)
Greeks and Romans (ca. 500 BCE - 500 CE)
• Humoral Theory: Greek physician Hippocrates proposed that mental and
physical health were determined by the balance of four bodily fluids (humors).
This approach was both medical and philosophical, viewing mental illness as a
result of physical imbalance rather than a spiritual issue→ neurology and
psychiatry
• Psychological problems: Some philosophers, such as Aristotle and Plato,
discussed the role of emotions, reason, and ethics in human behavior, seeing
psychological issues in a more philosophical light→ brain-behavior relationship
Ancient times and middle ages (ca. 500 - 1500)
• Spiritual and religious explanations: Psychological problems were often
attributed to supernatural causes, such as demonic possession or sin. Treatment
mainly involved religious rituals, exorcism, and prayer. There was little systematic
effort to scientifically understand mental disorders during this period
• Treatment through punishment and imprisonment: Mental disorders were
often treated through isolation or physical punishment. Asylums existed, but
conditions were poor, focusing on confinement rather than care.
19th Century:
• Moral Therapy: By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, pioneers like Philippe
Pinel and Dorothea Dix advocated for more humane treatments of the mentally
ill. This approach believed that empathy, care, and a calm environment could
foster recovery→ Mental health disorders are diseases that need treatment
, • Freud's Influence in the U.S.: In 1909, Freud delivered a lecture at Clark
University, which played a crucial role in introducing psychoanalysis to the
American medical and psychological community. His ideas were well-received,
leading to the widespread adoption of psychoanalysis in the United States
• Pre-Freudian Movements: Before Freud’s influence, mind cures like Christian
Science and the New Thought movement were popular in America. These
movements emphasized the mind's power to heal the body, reflecting a growing
interest in psychological explanations for illness, although they were often seen
as unscientific by the medical establishment.
Behavioral Therapy (1940s-1950s, First Wave)
• Behaviorism: a psychological approach that focuses on observable behaviors
rather than internal mental states. Second force in psychotherapy and it was
clear from the beginning that the behaviorists had a certain disdain for the first
force, psychoanalysis, because of the “unscientific” nature of the theory and the
lack of connection to observable phenomena. As early as 1920, Watson and
Rayner ridiculed the psychoanalytic foundations.
o Watson and Skinner→ classical
conditioning
o Systemic desensitization: procedure of the
first clinical application of learning
theory→ Is a behavior therapy developed
by the psychiatrist Joseph Wolpe. It is used
when a phobia or anxiety disorder is
maintained by classical conditioning.
o Behavioral treatments had their roots in
the treatment of avoidant types of anxiety
o The behaviorists found the Freudians to be
unscientific and were vocal and vociferous critics.
• Treatment of psychological disorders: Behavior therapy focused on changing
maladaptive behaviors using techniques like systematic
desensitization/exposure, reinforcement, and aversion therapy.
• Con: No attention to ‘inner world’
Humanistic Therapy (1950s-1960s): The humanistic movement arose as a response to
both psychoanalysis and behaviorism.
• Focuses on the way that humans- Experience the world- Relate to others- Create
meaningful life. Focuses on person as a whole also the ‘good’).
• Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow were central figures in this movement,
advocating for a more empathetic and client-centered approach to therapy that
recognized the inherent worth of individuals→ many streams: Person-centered,
Gestalt, Psychodrama.
• Con: Limited consensus, evidence?
, Cognitive Revolution (1960s-1970s): The cognitive revolution shifted the focus back to
internal mental processes, leading to the development of cognitive therapy→ Cognitive
Behavior Therapy (1960s-1980s, Second Wave)
CBT= cognitive behavior therapy founded by Beck and Ellis.
• Cognitive behavioral treatment was developed specifically for depression
• Cognitive biases can lead to flawed interpretation and unhelpful thoughts
Intellectual Convergence in Europe: By the late 19th century, a convergence of
scientific ideas, including Newtonian physics and Darwinian evolution, set the stage for
applying the scientific method to the mind. This convergence of intellectual forces in
Europe led to the emergence of talk therapy. This period marked the acceptance of the
scientific method as a means to understand psychological issues, paving the way for
more structured approaches to mental health treatment .
• Rise of Psychoanalysis: This period also saw the rise of psychoanalysis,
pioneered by Sigmund Freud, who introduced concepts such as the unconscious
mind, defense mechanisms, and the importance of early childhood experiences
in shaping personality.
Integration and Eclecticism (1970s-1990s): As the field matured, therapists began to
integrate various approaches, recognizing that no single method was universally
effective→ Example: synthesizing psychoanalysis and behaviorism→ a combination of
modeling, self-control strategies, and homework assignments, thus introducing
behavioral strategies into a psychoanalytic treatment. Eclecticism emerged, allowing
practitioners to tailor their techniques to the individual needs of clients→ example
technical eclecticism: recommendation that clients who are characteristically resistant
to advice or suggestion (i.e., have a high reactance potential) would benefit most from
relatively unstructured treatments
Late 20th Century: Expansion of Therapeutic Models:
• Cultural Competence and Diversity (Late 20th Century): Growing awareness of
cultural diversity led to a recognition of the need for culturally competent therapy.
Practitioners began to consider the impact of race, ethnicity, gender, and
socioeconomic status on mental health, adapting therapeutic practices to be
more inclusive and relevant to diverse populations.
• Evidence-Based Practice (21st Century): The emphasis on evidence-based
practice has become increasingly prominent, with a focus on identifying and
implementing treatments that have empirical support for their effectiveness. This
movement aims to bridge the gap between research and practice, providing
clinicians with guidelines for effective interventions.