Creating Behavioral Change
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Creating Behavioral Change
This course is part of Abnormal Psychology Specialization
Instructor: Alexis May
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What you'll learn
Fundamental principles of behavior change
How those principles are applied in evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions
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There are 4 modules in this course
In this course you will learn about understanding and changing mental and physical health behavior. We will examine both the historical context and the current science. Major topics will include fundamental behavioral principles and basic elements of empirically supported individual treatments (e.g., motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapies). Lectures and examples will illustrate both the theory and the practice of evidence-based approaches to behavior change. You will engage in a course-long behavior change experiment as well as brief quizzes. Please note: this course is designed to introduce you to a range of contemporary approaches to behavioral treatments; however, it will not provide the skills needed to implement psychological interventions with others (this requires years of graduate training) nor is it designed to address or resolve your own psychological problems.
For each module, students will complete 1 assignment related to their personal behavior change project and 1 quiz on the week’s material.
What's included
8 videos2 readings1 assignment
8 videos•Total 49 minutes
- Welcome•3 minutes
- Behaviorism in Historical Context•6 minutes
- Classical Conditioning•9 minutes
- Operant Conditioning•5 minutes
- Reinforcement and Punishment•7 minutes
- Types of Reinforcement•9 minutes
- Modern Behaviorism•7 minutes
- Personal Behavior Change Activity•3 minutes
2 readings•Total 80 minutes
- Behavior Change Assignment #1•60 minutes
- Post-Module Reading•20 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- Quiz #1•30 minutes
What's included
5 videos4 readings1 assignment
5 videos•Total 36 minutes
- Why Change?•6 minutes
- Motivational Interviewing•5 minutes
- Current Use and Evidence•7 minutes
- Basic and Critical Listening Skills•9 minutes
- Decisional Balance•9 minutes
4 readings•Total 102 minutes
- YouTube Example: The Ineffective Physician•10 minutes
- YouTube Example: The Effective Physician•7 minutes
- Behavior Change Assignment #2•60 minutes
- Post-Module Reading and Video•25 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- Quiz 2•30 minutes
What's included
4 videos3 readings1 assignment
4 videos•Total 30 minutes
- What to Change?•4 minutes
- Behavioral Activation Treatment Step by Step•9 minutes
- Case Example•7 minutes
- Turning Activity Brainstorm to SMART Goals•10 minutes
3 readings•Total 97 minutes
- (YouTube) Setting Up Behavioral Actions•27 minutes
- Behavior Change Activity #3•60 minutes
- Post-Module Reading•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- Quiz 3•30 minutes
What's included
4 videos3 readings1 assignment
4 videos•Total 23 minutes
- Re-evaluating and Maintaining Gains•9 minutes
- Relapse Prevention Plans•6 minutes
- Tips for Strengthening Behavior Change•7 minutes
- Conclusion•1 minute
3 readings•Total 88 minutes
- (YouTube) Dan Ariely on Environment and Motivations•15 minutes
- Post-Module Video (YouTube)•13 minutes
- Behavior Change Activity #4•60 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- Quiz 4•30 minutes
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Reviewed on Feb 14, 2022
This course provided a useful framework and practical tools that will help me create behavioural change interventions.
Reviewed on May 17, 2025
Very worthwhile as a college or upper high school elective.
Reviewed on Jan 8, 2023
The discussions and sample activities are very clearly delivered and not intermediating at all. Very insightful.
Frequently asked questions
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