Cognitive-behaviourist approaches

Abstract

Cognitive behaviourism grew among people who described themselves as ‘psychologists’ more than it did among ‘counsellors’. One important group of psychology specialists were the clinical psychologists, who, initially at least, were ancillaries of the medical profession. As behaviourists, they confined themselves to devising and providing psychometric tests, numerical scores, normal distributions of quantified results, questionnaires and checklists for observation. Within this role, they established themselves within the UK national health service as valuable assistants to the doctor. Psychological testing was presented as a useful auxiliary service that physicians could request and use as they saw fit. Thus the employment of clinical psychologists within medical teams could be seen as adding to the medical consultant’s status, prestige and clinical armoury.

A man’s behaviour is the index of the man, and his discourse is the index of his understanding.

(Ali Ibn-Abi-Talib, 7th century, Sentences)

Behaviour is a mirror in which everyone displays his own image.

(Goethe, 1809)¹

Conduct is three-fourths of our life and its largest concern.

(Arnold, 1873)²