ARC Annual ConferenceApril 2o11

The Magic Formula of Psychologists:

Paradigms

Freud

•Past experiences influence future behavior

•We are rarely aware of why we do what we do

Pavlov – Classical Conditioning

•UCS pair with CS yields a CR•Learning by association and

value•Change association or value,

change behavior

Skinner – Operant Conditioning

The learner interacts with the environment

•Behaviors that are reinforced increase•Behaviors that are punished decrease•Paradigm = Sd – R - Sr

As environments/relationships change, we change

Functional Analysis Why we do what we do?

•Internal•Avoidance/Escape•Affecting Others•Accessing Tangibles

Method of Behavioral Change

•Observe behavior•Define behavior•Measure change•Change behavior

ADVANTAGEMatthew 7:1

“Do not judge, or you too will be Do not judge, or you too will be judgedjudged.”

•Helps us not to “judge” others •Discern the merit of their behaviors•Not to assign value to the person

God calls us to change our motivation

He wants a changed heart

Heart = inner person = wants, desires, passion

Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. there your heart will be also.

Case # 1 – Man in the nursing home

•Protecting his daughter•Choking man

The Heart is the source of our behavior

Luke 6:45(Matthew 12:34b)

A good man brings good things out of A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of an evil man brings evil things out of

the evil stored up in his heart. the evil stored up in his heart.

For the mouth speaks what the heart For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. is full of.

Not just do what is right•God want s us to want what is right

Deuteronomy 6:5

Love the LORD your God with all your Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.all your strength.Psalms 37:4

Take delight in the LORD, Take delight in the LORD,    and he will give you the desires of    and he will give you the desires of

your heart. your heart.

•The Heart is corrupt•We cannot understand it•We cannot change it

Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all things The heart is deceitful above all things    and beyond cure.    and beyond cure.

   Who can understand it?    Who can understand it?

Only God can change the heart

Changing the heart is relational

Enhanced by prayer, listening and responding

Recognizing our dependency on Him

Psalm 51:10,17

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, Create in me a pure heart, O God,    and renew a steadfast spirit within    and renew a steadfast spirit within

me. me. 1717 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken My sacrifice, O God, is a broken

spirit; spirit;    a broken and contrite heart    a broken and contrite heart    you, God, will not despise.    you, God, will not despise.

Finding our joy in Him

Psalm 119:32

I run in the path of your I run in the path of your commands, commands,

   for you have set my heart free.    for you have set my heart free.

Trusting in Him

Proverbs 3:5-6

  55 Trust in the LORD with all your Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own heart and lean not on your own understanding; understanding; 66 in all your ways in all your ways submit to him, and he will make submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.your paths straight.

Shaping our relationships with others

1 Peter 1:22

Now that you have purified Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each that you have sincere love for each

other, love one another deeply, from other, love one another deeply, from the heart.the heart.

Case Study #1

Resolution

Case Study #2

Depressed patient assessing needs of spouse

Case Study #3

Personal prayer to love my wife

CONCLUSION

The past influences the present•Through association•Through cues and consequences

But God wants our hearts – our motivation

•This is changed through association with Him•Only the power of the cross can change a heart

One sleepless night of anguished prayer