Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Does Problem Behavior Just Happen?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Concept of Race and Psychotherapy

  • 767 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter discusses psychoanalytic, behavioral, and systemic models of the origin of problem behavior and their implications for therapy. It adds the possibility of the accidental occurrence of problem behavior and questions the importance of knowing how a problem originated to the change process. Implications for brief therapy are discussed.

An earlier version of this chapter appeared in the 1995 Behavior and Social Issues, 5(1), 3–12. © 1995 by the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies, and is used with permission.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ascher, L. M. (1989). Paradoxical intention: Its clarification and emergence as a conventional behavioral procedure. The Behavior Therapist, 12(2), 23–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Axelrod, R. (2006). The evolution of cooperation (rev. ed.). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baer, L. (2001). The imp of the mind: Exploring the silent epidemic of obsessive bad thoughts. New York: Dutton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berg, I. K. (2007). More than miracles: The state of the art of solution-focused brief therapy. New York: Haworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, N. (1963). Personality development and psychopathology: A dynamic approach. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corcoran, J., & Pillai, V. (2009). A review of the research on solution-focused therapy. British Journal of Social Work, 39, 234–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coyne, J. C., & Biglan, A. (1984). Paradoxical techniques in strategic family therapy: A behavioral analysis. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 15(3), 221–227.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Shazer, S. (1984). The death of resistance. Family Process, 23, 11–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Shazer, S. (1988). Clues: Investigating solutions in brief therapy. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Shazer, S. (1989). Resistance revisited. Contemporary family therapy, 11(4), 227–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Shazer, S. (1991). Putting difference to work. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Shazer, S. (1994). Words were originally magic. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Shazer, S., Berg, I. K., Lipchik, E., Nunnally, E., Molnar, A., Gingerich, W., & Weiner-Davis, M. (1986). Brief therapy: Focused solution development. Family Process, 25, 207–221.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dinsmoor, J. A. (2004). The etymology of basic concepts in the experimental analysis of behavior. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 82(3), 311–316.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fenichel, O. (1945). The psychoanalytic theory of neurosis. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisch, R., Weakland, J. H., & Segal, L. (1982). The tactics of change. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fish, J. M. (1973). Placebo therapy: A practical guide to social influence in psychotherapy. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank, J. D. (1961). Persuasion and healing: A comparative study of psychotherapy. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gingerich, W. J., & Eisengart, S. (2000). Solution focused brief therapy: A review of the outcome research. Family Process, 39, 477–498.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haley, J. (1976). Problem solving therapy. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haley, J. (1984). Ordeal therapy: Unusual ways to change behavior. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C. (1988). Contextualism and the next wave of behavioral psychology. Behavior Analysis, 23, 7–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., & Toarmino, D. (1995). If behavioral principles are generally applicable, why is it necessary to understand cultural diversity? The Behavior Therapist, 18(2), 21–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., & Wilson, K. G. (1994). Acceptance and commitment therapy: Altering the verbal support for experiential avoidance. The Behavior Analyst, 17, 289–303.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., Hayes, L. J., & Reese, H. W. (1988). Finding the philosophical core: A review of Stephen Pepper’s world hypotheses. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 50, 97–111.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., Kohlenberg, B. S., & Melancon, S. M. (1989). Avoiding and altering rule-control as a strategy of clinical intervention. In S. C. Hayes (Ed.), Rule-governed behavior: Cognitions, contingencies, and instructional control (pp. 359–385). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., Luoma, J., Bond, F., Masuda, A., & Lillis, J. (2006). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Model, processes, and outcomes. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44(1), 1–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J. S. (2008). Examining the effectiveness of solution-focused brief therapy: A meta-analysis. Research on Social Work Practice, 18(2), 107–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J. S., & Franklin, C. (2009). Solution-focused brief therapy in schools: A review of the outcome literature. Children and Youth Services Review, 31, 464–470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirsch, I. (1990). Changing expectations: A key to effective psychotherapy. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirsch, I. (Ed.). (1999). How expectancies shape experience. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirsch, I. (2009). The emperor’s new drugs: Exploding the antidepressant myth. London: The Bodley Head.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiser, D. (1988). A follow-up study conducted at the brief family therapy center of Milwaukee. Unpublished master’s thesis, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleinplatz, P.J., & Moser, C. (2005). Politics versus science: An addendum and response to Drs. Spitzer and Fink. Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, 17(3–4), 135–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohlenberg, R. J., Hayes, S. C., & Tsai, M. (1993). Radical behavioral psychotherapy: Two contemporary examples. Clinical Psychology Review, 13, 579–592.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krasner, L., & Ullmann, L. P. (1973). Behavior influence and personality: The social matrix of human action. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapy. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nichols, M. P., & Schwartz, R. C. (2010). Family therapy: Concepts and methods (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palazzoli, M. S., Boscolo, L., Cecchin, G., & Prata, G. (1978). Paradox and counter-paradox. New York: Jason Aronson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pepper, S. C. (1942). World hypotheses: A study in evidence. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selvini Palazzoli, M., Boscolo, L., Cecchin, G., & Prata, G. (1980). Hypothesizing – circularity – neutrality: Three guidelines for the conductor of family interviews. Family Process, 19, 3–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shoham, V., Rohrbaugh, M., & Patterson, J. (1995). Problem- and solution-focused couple therapies: The MRI and Milwaukee models. In N. S. Jacobson & A. S. Gurman (Eds.), Clinical handbook of couple therapy (pp. 142–163). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stams, G. J., Dekovic, M., Buist, K., & de Vries, L. (2006). Effectiviteit van oplossingsgerichte kortetherapie: Een meta-analyse (Efficacy of solution focused brief therapy: A meta-analysis). Gedragstherapie, 39(2), 81–95. (Dutch; abstract in English).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, E. C., & Bennett, M. J. (1991). American cultural patterns: A cross-cultural perspective (2nd ed.). Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szasz, T. S. (1961). The myth of mental illness: Foundations of a theory of personal conduct. New York: Hoeber-Harper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullmann, L. P., & Krasner, L. (1965). Introduction. In L. P. Ullmann & L. Krasner (Eds.), Case studies in behavior modification (pp. 1–63). New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullmann, L. P., & Krasner, L. (1975). A psychological approach to abnormal behavior (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walter, J. L., & Peller, J. E. (1992). Becoming solution-focused in brief therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watzlawick, P., Weakland, J. H., & Fisch, R. (1974). Change: Principles of problem formation and problem resolution. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weakland, J. H., Fisch, R., Watzlawick, P., & Bodin, A. (1974). Brief therapy: Focused problem resolution. Family Process, 13, 141–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freud, S. (1937/1963). Analysis terminable and interminable. In S. Freud (Ed.), Therapy and technique (pp. 233–271). New York: Collier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dollard, J., & Miller, N. E. (1950). Personality and psychotherapy: An analysis in terms of learning, thinking and culture. New York: McGraw.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Brief Therapy Association. (2009). Solution-focused brief therapy evaluation list—21/4/9. Retrieved January 2, 2010, http://www.ebta.nu/assets/SFT-2009.pdf.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, St. John’s University, New York City, NY, USA

    Jefferson M. Fish

Authors
  1. Jefferson M. Fish
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jefferson M. Fish .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fish, J.M. (2011). Does Problem Behavior Just Happen?. In: The Concept of Race and Psychotherapy. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7576-8_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation