ABSTRACT
Much of the early history of behavior modification and behavior therapy clearly falls within either the operant orientation or the Pavlovian-Wolpean orientation. This chapter examines the history of four major orientations to behavior: one that emphasizes classical conditioning, one that emphasizes operant conditioning, and two that focus on cognitive variables: social learning theory and cognitive behavior therapy. In the late 1960s, the operant conditioning orientation began to spread throughout the Western Hemisphere. Respondent conditioning is a type of conditioning that involves automatic responses to prior stimuli. Initially in the history of behavior modification, respondent conditioning was considered the only mechanism by which learning occurred. Social learning theory stresses the idea that respondent and operant conditioning cannot fully account for all human behavior, even when covert or private behavior is taken into account. Albert Bandura’s research and theory helped set the stage for the “cognitive revolution” in psychology and the advent of cognitive behavior therapy.
