Need for a Theoretical Justification of Humanistic Commitment Components in Behavior Therapy

Abstract

Although behavior therapies are putatively based on traditional learning paradigms, standard clinical practice with outpatient clients presenting problems of personal adjustment routinely requires a voluntary commitment to collaboration (CTC) with the therapist (Harcum, Burijon, & Watson, 1988). Nevertheless, in the various summaries of the theoretical justification, even for cognitive behavior therapy, the mainstream literature generally omits this presumably necessary humanistic component and includes only acceptable principles from traditional learning paradigms. Development of a comprehensive theory of behavior therapy is prevented by this failure to acknowledge the need for a theoretical justification of CTC. This avoidance is attributed to a fear of being considered unscientifiC., fostered by traditional graduate training in psychology.