Covert conditioning, when you are shaped in subtle ways

Covert conditioning is a theoretical model developed by Joseph Cautela. This model focuses on the possibility of shape the behavior of others through the use of imagination. In this approach, reinforcing, or positive, images and aversive, or negative, images are used in order to increase or decrease a certain behavior.

A series of therapeutic procedures are used in covert conditioning. to shape behavior. That is, to ensure that that behavior is reinforced, decreased or eliminated. All techniques use the imagination as the means that makes conditioning possible.

The model of covert conditioning is used primarily in clinical therapies. It is evident that his principles have been taken up and assimilated by self-help approaches. It has also received criticism, since the approaches are also applicable to work and politics, with unclear consequences in relation to autonomy.

The phases and patterns of covert conditioning

The covert conditioning model is applied in phases successive. Each of them has the purpose of delving deeper and deeper into how behavior is modeled. No matter what technique is used, the same succession of stages is always respected.

The phases of covert conditioning are:

Educational phase. In psychotherapy, the covert conditioning procedures are explained to the patient and why it is necessary to perform them.Assessment and imagination training. The degree of the patient’s ability to imagine is assessed. If required, you are trained to increase this capacity.Application of covert conditioning. The patient is trained to associate mental images with certain behaviors and their consequences. The idea is that he can do it more and more easily, without the therapist’s help.Consolidation and generalization. In this phase, the patient is able to apply the technique alone, without professional support.

At the same time, This entire process is carried out by applying a set of techniques. These are very similar to those used in non-covert conditioning. The difference is that they fundamentally use imagination.

Covert Conditioning Techniques

The main techniques of covert conditioning are: covert sensitization, positive and negative reinforcementcovert response cost, covert modeling, covert assertion, and self-control triad.

Let’s look briefly at each of them.:

Covert awareness. It is used to reduce the frequency of a behavior. It basically consists of imagining yourself developing such behavior and abruptly introducing an unpleasant or negative event.Positive and negative reinforcement. It is used to increase or decrease the frequency of a behavior. It consists of imagining a positive or negative consequence of a behavior, which is fixed in a mental image.Covert response cost. It is used to reduce the frequency of a behavior. Appeal to indirect punishment to achieve this goal. It consists of getting the patient to associate that behavior with the withdrawal or loss of a positive stimulus.Covert modeling. It aims to increase the frequency of a behavior. It consists of imagining another person, who is an ideal model, carrying out the behavior that you want to reinforce.Covert assertion. Seeks to reduce negative thoughts and feelings towards oneself. It consists of creating positive affirmations about oneself and verbalizing them.Self-control triad. It serves to reduce unwanted behavior. It is composed of: 1) stopping unexpressed thought; 2) relaxing and deep breathing; and 3) imagination of a pleasant scene.

Successes and difficulties

On a therapeutic level, the covert conditioning model has proven to be very effective, mainly to reinforce and establish positive behaviors.. However, it does not seem to contribute significantly to the abandonment of deeply rooted habits, as occurs in addictions or similar behaviors.

Likewise, it has been detected that its application is counterproductive in cases related to obsessive disorders. In fact, in many patients it increases symptoms. However, These techniques seem to produce very good results when it comes to treating depression and melancholy..

Criticism of this model does not refer so much to its therapeutic use, but to the management of its postulates in other areas, such as propaganda or ideological manipulation.. Joseph Cautela himself went so far as to say that rewards and aversive stimuli, even if they only existed in the imagination, came to be perceived as real.

It is clear that modern advertising, both commercial, political and economic, makes use of covert conditioning to eliminate some ideas and reinforce others.. This should be a wake-up call about the messages we receive that lead us to love or hate certain ideas or characters without being very clear why.

You might be interested…