Behavioral Therapy Doesn't Work Because People Are Not Stupid Enough

Behavioral therapy comes in many flavors, but they all more or less share the same outcome: either the therapy doesn't work, or it works but in such a way that it better didn't.

The reason for this is the basic error of assuming that people are stupid enough. I am not talking about the kind of stupidity that is the opposite of being a Nobel prize winner; but in order for behavioral therapy to work people must be so stupid as to not understand what is going on around them. Otherwise they quickly figure out the rules of the game, and refuse to participate if it gives them too much trouble.

Behavioral therapy is based on clever application of positive and negative stimuli in order to support or eliminate certain types of behavior. A textbook example: if the room is too cold (negative stimulus), the subject will set the thermostat up (desired behavior); thus, without any complicated analysis or dream interpretation business we have achieved the change in behavior, which is all we need after all (right?).

The problems start when we try to reproduce the situation in the real world. In the real world someone needs to go and set that thermostat down first, so as to create the negative stimulus. At this moment the subject, who is not stupid enough, says: "Wait a minute! Why are you doing this? Are you trying to manipulate me?" - and the whole ingenious plan goes down the drain.

Glance through any book on dog training, and then any behavioral therapy manual. You will notice a lot of similarities in approach; sometimes you will find it difficult to remember which book is which. But even being as stupid as a dog is still not enough! Anyone who attempted to train a dog knows that he will play along while he finds it funny; but at some point he will look at you suspiciously: "I thought we were playing, and turns out you're trying your silly methods on me?" From then on, if you persist in your attempts, you will only make the dog angry and put your relationship at risk.

To successfully train a dog, one must somehow convince him that being a good dog can be a lot of fun. You cannot explain it, or manipulate a dog into thinking so. The ability to convey the message is a matter of talent. All good trainers incorporate the principles of behavioral science in their work, but they do it "from within" - unobtrusively and naturally. Simply following a set of rules and methods does not work even with dogs, not to mention human beings.

Sometimes, however, the human beings are smart enough to realize that they have to go through therapy and follow the trainer's instructions. They will not get angry, but instead will play a double game, convincing everybody and themselves that they really don't see the person who enters the room and sets the thermostat down. They trick themselves into being genuinely surprised when the room becomes cold, and allow themselves to act upon the urge to get rid of the negative stimulus and reach the desired behavior. In so doing, they become persuaded that they really improve.

The situation thus grows worse than if there was no therapy at all. The patient now thinks that he is prepared for the life's misfortunes, but it is only an illusion; therefore his vulnerability actually increases. Besides, the long-term consequences of playing an idiot are not well-studied.