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Biomedical subjects

D J Levis

Publications and source records attributed to D J Levis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The negative impact of the cognitive movement on the continued growth of the behavior therapy movement: a historical perspective.

In recent years, a growing number of behavior therapists have expressed concern over the current state of the behavioral therapy movement. Some of the major problems raised center on current overload and fractionization, the lack of a coherent overall picture, the loss of identity, and the influx of cognitivism. In an attempt to enhance understanding of the factors responsible for the current crises in the behavior therapy field, the author provides a historical overview of the behavioral movement from its original conception to its current state. An argument is made that the solution to the afore-mentioned problems resides in the readoption of the underlying philosophy of science that originally gave birth and purpose to the field.

Behavioral Medicine↗

Exposure to smoking-relevant cues: effects on desire to smoke and topographical components of smoking behavior.

The effects of exposure to two classes of smoking-relevant cues (environmental; negative affect) on desire to smoke and smoking topography were evaluated. Sixty chronic smokers were randomly assigned to one of six groups in a two-way ANOVA design in which the salience of environmental cues and presence of negative affective cues were manipulated. This was followed by a 20-minute interval during which ad libitum smoking was videotaped in an unobtrusive manner. Results indicated that the experimental manipulations differentially influenced ratings of desire and topographical components of smoking behavior. Implications are raised regarding the role of cue reactivity in the maintenance of smoking behavior.

Adolescent↗

Extrapolation of two-factor learning theory of infrahuman avoidance behavior to psychopathology.

This paper involves a theoretical attempt to extend O. H. Mowrer's two-factor theory of infrahuman avoidance behavior to the area of human psychopathology, Central to any such theoretical extrapolation is the need to explain why human fears and avoidance behavior manifest such strong resistance to extinction while the abundance of infrahuman findings suggests that the extinction of such behaviors is rapid. The position is advanced that this noted paradox can be resolved both theoretically and empirically by modifying and extending the Solomon and Wynne conservation of anxiety hypothesis to include complex, serial ordered cues. The model presented also provides the rationale for an extinction approach to psychotherapy, referred to as implosive therapy which is briefly described. Supporting data for the model as well as alternative explanations are provided and discussed.

Animals↗