What does behavior therapy assume about behavior?

Behavior therapy fundamentally operates on the premise that behavior is learned. This perspective is grounded in the principles of behaviorism, which emphasizes the role of environmental factors and experiences in shaping behavior. Through processes such as classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning, individuals acquire behaviors through interactions with their environment.

The implication of this assumption is significant: if behavior is learned, it can also be unlearned or modified. Behavior therapy aims to identify and alter maladaptive behaviors by applying specific techniques, such as reinforcement or modeling, to promote more adaptive behavior patterns.

This learning-based approach contrasts with other perspectives, such as those that emphasize free will, unconscious processes, or intrinsic psychic energy as determinants of behavior. Each of those perspectives points to different underlying mechanisms for why individuals act as they do, but behavior therapy focuses specifically on the learnable and changeable aspects of behavior, thereby providing a practical framework for intervention.