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Behavior therapy

By Arlin Cuncic, About.com

Updated: October 12, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition:

A form of psychological treatment based on the premise that emotional problems are learned responses to the environment, and that these maladaptive behaviors can be unlearned. From the perspective of behavioral therapists, the reasons behind behaviors are not as important as the fact that the behaviors can be changed. Some examples of behavioral therapy techniques include systematic desensitization and operant conditioning.

Also Known As: Behavior modification
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