He published a book with Gayla Margolin, which launched a social learning model of couples therapy.
[4] In this model of therapy, partners learn to be nicer to each other through behavioral exchange (contingency contracts), communicate better and improve their conflict-resolution skills.
Early support came when John Gottman found that as long as the ratio of positive to negative interactions remains at least five to one, the relationship is sturdy.
[7] Parts of the behavioral couples therapy model, in particular strategic use of the communication skills to reinforce drug abstinence and open dialogue about treatment, were introduced as a method for getting drug abusing partners into treatment, a method known as Community reinforcement approach and family training.
[8] Early research suggested that the components of behavioral marital therapy worked as predicted.
[11] Integrative behavioral couple therapy (IBCT) was developed by Neil S. Jacobson and Andrew Christensen.
The model represents a return to contextualism, functional analysis and Skinner's distinction between contingency shaped and rule governed behavior.
Couples who succeed in therapy usually make some concrete changes to accommodate the needs of the other but they also show greater emotional acceptance of the other.
Second, IBCT integrates a variety of treatment strategies under a consistent behavioral theoretical framework.
The latter model draws heavily on the use of functional analysis (psychology) and the Skinnerian distinction between contingency shaped and rule governed behavior to balance acceptance and change in the relationship.
In the first session, the therapist usually sees both partners together, learns what brings the couple to therapy, and obtains a brief history of their relationship.
The therapist may suggest couples read a self-help book during treatment that serves as a guideline for IBCT therapy.
The couple actively participates in this feedback, giving their reactions, adding information, and correcting the therapist's impressions as needed.
A greater reliance on behavioral conceptualizations of romantic love[33] intimacy and forgiveness[34][35] may be helpful in easing the pain of such difficult situations.
[37][38] The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) has an annual conference where couple researchers and therapists can present their recent work in the field.