Moral development theory and CBT psychology

Learning outcomes 

• By the end of this article, you will be able to:
• Discuss the three different approaches to psychotherapy.
• Summarize the origin and history of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
• List the factors that determine the quality of the relationship between a therapist and their client.
• State the characteristics that define the therapeutic alliance.
• Identify the methods a therapist can employ to communicate empathy.

Introduction to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

The Underlying Principles Behind CBT

What do the Terms 'Counselling', 'Therapy' and 'Psychotherapy' Mean?

In practice, these three terms are used interchangeably.

Therapy is merely a shortened form of psychotherapy, and for the sake of brevity, is used throughout this course.

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) offers this definition:

“Counselling and psychotherapy are umbrella terms that cover a wide range of talking therapies. They are delivered by trained practitioners who work with people over the short or long term to help them bring about effective change and enhance their resilience and wellbeing.”

The Main Perspectives in Counselling Psychology

The discipline of modern Western psychology is approximately 125 years old.

A full overview of the major advancements made throughout that time is beyond the scope of this topic. Psychology has undergone several paradigm shifts over the course of its history to date. In other words, psychologists over the years have changed their approach to understanding human thoughts and behaviours.

There is still much disagreement between psychologists regarding how we can better understand how humans think, and this diversity of opinion is reflected in the world of psychotherapy. This means that not all therapists work in the same way. 

There are several main approaches in use today, each with its own assumptions about human nature and how a therapist should work with a client to solve problems and adopt a healthier approach to living. It is common for therapists to mix various techniques and theories together. This approach is known as a holistic, eclectic or integrative therapy.

However, most therapists begin their careers by receiving training that is based in one of the following paradigms or 'schools':

The Different Approaches to Psychology and Psychotherapy

There are three different approaches to psychotherapy as shown below:

1. Behavioural therapy
2. Cognitive therapy
3. Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic approaches
4. Humanistic approaches

Behavioural therapy

As the name suggests, this approach focuses on a person's physical actions rather than their thoughts or feelings. It was developed in the 1950s as a natural consequence of the broader behaviourist movement in psychology. The behaviourists believed that because thoughts and feelings could not be measured, it was futile to analyse or 'correct' them. Instead, they concentrated on tangible outcomes, such as the number of cigarettes a person smokes each day in the case of addiction or the number of times they feel compelled to wash their hands in the case of OCD.

Common behavioural therapy techniques include desensitisation (whereby a client is taught that a stimulus is no cause for alarm) and operant conditioning (whereby a client is rewarded for positive behaviour).

Cognitive therapy.

This approach is grounded in the notion that unhelpful thoughts and thinking styles result in maladaptive behaviours. Cognitive therapy practitioners believe that if you address and correct a client's faulty thinking style, their behaviours will improve as a result.

For example

If a client's failure to make friendships stems from the underlying belief that they are intrinsically 'bad' or undesirable, helping them think differently will encourage new, healthier behaviours.

Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic approaches

Unconscious thoughts and motives are given centre stage in these therapies. It is assumed that seemingly irrational behaviours are maintained by desires and needs that a client may be unaware of. Through free association (inviting the client to simply speak about whatever is on 

their mind), dream analysis and various other techniques, therapist and client work together to uncover the contents of the subconscious mind. Some approaches are particularly focused on the role of early childhood experience and the relationship between parents and their children.

Transference, a term applied when a client projects their feelings for another person (such as a parent or partner) onto their therapist, is also emphasised. Psychoanalysts sometimes describe themselves as blank screens onto which a client will project feelings and behaviours associated with their other relationships.

Psychoanalysts are also interested in whether clients have any unresolved issues or conflicts from the past that could be influencing their thoughts and behaviours in the present. For example, if a client failed to develop a sense of self as a person distinct from their parents, this might result in

'clingy' or enmeshed behaviours and relationships in adulthood.

When a therapist looks to the past in this way, particularly if they pay attention to specific periods in a person's life (such as toilet training or the point of reaching adulthood), they are said to be taking a 'developmental' approach. Some therapists, such as Freud and Erik Erikson, devised theories that consisted of developmental stages that they believed all people had to navigate across their lifespan. The developmental approach emphasises that if there is a rupture or failure to resolve conflicts that occur at particular stages, maladaptive behaviours are likely or even inevitable.

Humanistic Approaches

Humanistic practitioners emphasise personal empowerment and choice. They believe that every client knows how to help themselves and that within the context of a supportive therapeutic relationship can live up to their full potential.

Gestalt therapy, a particular type of humanistic therapy, teaches clients the importance of staying mindful of the present moment and examining their lives and personalities as unified 'wholes', rather than parts or mere problems to be solved. Existential therapy, another approach within this category, focuses on helping clients make sense of their lives and derive meaning from suffering.

Humanistic therapists often regard the creation of a supportive, warm, collaborative space in which clients can explore their experiences and devise their own 'answers'. Humanistic practitioners never assume that they are the expert when it comes to a client's personal experiences. They believe that acceptance and positive regard are essential tools in helping an individual realise their full potential.

The humanistic school has had a significant impact on the way therapists of all theoretical persuasions regard the therapeutic relationship. 

These days, it is recognised that this relationship is one of the most important factors governing the outcome of a course of therapy.

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a practical, short-term therapy technique that helps people change maladaptive behaviours by challenging negative thought patterns.

CBT addresses how we think about life events and how we act and eventually changes how we feel about ourselves and the world. It is a goal-oriented, problem-specific approach that requires your client's active participation in order to succeed.

CBT is based on a number of beliefs including the following:

Unhelpful or negative ways of thinking often result in psychological problems.

People can learn more beneficial ways of thinking and behaving which in turn will improve how they feel.

Learning new, positive habits can help stress caused due to negative thoughts.

Some distinct differences between REBT and CT approaches:

REBT involves analysing your own mindset and assumptions for thinking or doing something. Comparatively speaking, CBT ignores going deep into your client's mind and focuses on correcting actions instead.

REBT focuses on interpreting what they call 'secondary disturbances'. For instance, you are worried about worrying or anxious about appearing anxious. CBT usually ignores secondary disturbances and focus on the problem at hand.

Cognitive Therapy (CT)

Another psychologist by the name of Aaron Beck developed Cognitive Therapy in the 1960s. He was particularly interested in the thought processes that caused and prolonged depressive states. His basic approach - identifying and tackling unhelpful thoughts - overlapped with that put forward by Ellis, but his primary intention was to cure depressed individuals.

He introduced the idea of the Cognitive Triad, a model that explains why and how people with depression think about the world. We will cover Beck's theories in greater depth later on, but in essence, he believed that a person's negative view of themselves, their negative view of the world and their negative view of the future all combined to keep them locked in a depressive state.

Moral development theory 

 Moral development theory in psychology is a framework that seeks to explain how individuals acquire and develop their moral values, beliefs, and ethical reasoning. One of the most well-known theories in this area is Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development. Kohlberg proposed that individuals progress through a series of stages as they mature, each characterized by increasingly complex and abstract moral reasoning. These stages can be categorized into three levels:

Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development 

Pre-conventional Level: 

At this stage, individuals make moral judgments based on self-interest and avoidance of punishment. It consists of two stages: obedience and punishment orientation, and individualism and exchange.

Conventional Level: 

In this stage, individuals conform to societal norms and rules. The two stages in this level are interpersonal relationships and maintaining social order.

Post-conventional Level: 

At this highest level, individuals develop their own moral principles and values, often transcending societal norms. This level includes the stages of social contract and individual rights and universal principles.

Kohlberg's theory has been influential in understanding how people's moral thinking evolves over time. However, it has been criticized for its cultural and gender bias, and some psychologists have proposed alternative theories or modifications to better account for these factors. Nonetheless, moral development theory remains a fundamental concept in the field of psychology, helping to explain the complexities of ethical reasoning and behavior in individuals.

If if you have any query about this article then please comment us and we will give you to the point and full understanding about it.

Also Read:

 Al-HIlAl AND Al-RAED 
Structuralism in Psychology
The Kingswood by-election
Elections results in Pakistan 
Methodological Issues in Cross-Cultural Research
Environmental risk perception in psychology
Relaxation techniques in psychology 
Types of scientific knowledge 
Difference between Emic and Etic approach
Deferens between Collectivism and individualism in cross cultural psychology 
What is Ethnocentrism?
Cross cultural psychology 
A Comprehensive Approach to Treating Anxiety:
What is Bipolar disorder ?
Theories of Max Weber 
Biography of Max Weber and his contributions 
Moral development theory in psychology 
Forensic psychology and it's scope 
Aims Of clinical psychology 
Introduction to clinical psychology and it's scope 
Introduction of psychology 
Jean Piaget cognitive development theory 
Parenting practices across cultures in psychology 
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Sexual Harassment in Gender Psychology 
The role of environment on personality development 
Theories of Karl Marx
Perspectives of Educational psychology 
Karl Marx theories 
Durkheim's Division of Labor 
Emile Durkheim theory of suicide 
Emile Durkheim theory of social facts 
Emile Durkheim biography 
Plato's theories 
Survey method and its types
Biography of Plato and his contributions 
Fields of psychology 
Definition of Psychology 
Ancient Greece
Ancient Mesopotamia
The Greek city Athens 
History of Minoans and Mycenaeans
The beginning of the ancient Greek polis 
Colonization and city-state formation
History of Greek Civilization

If you need any notes related to psychology or sociology then comment us we will give you notes as soon as possible to

👍👍👍👍

Thank you.