<Dd> Step 3: Evaluate critical behaviors for frequency, duration, or intensity (obtain a baseline) </Dd> <Dd> Step 4: If excess, attempt to decrease frequency, duration, or intensity of behaviors; if deficits, attempt to increase behaviors . </Dd> <P> These steps are based on a system created by Kanfer and Saslow . After identifying the behaviors that need changing, whether they be in excess or deficit, and treatment has occurred, the psychologist must identify whether or not the intervention succeeded . For example, "If the goal was to decrease the behavior, then there should be a decrease relative to the baseline . If the critical behavior remains at or above the baseline, then the intervention has failed ." </P> <P> Therapists or computer - based programs use CBT techniques to help individuals challenge their patterns and beliefs and replace "errors in thinking such as overgeneralizing, magnifying negatives, minimizing positives and catastrophizing" with "more realistic and effective thoughts, thus decreasing emotional distress and self - defeating behavior". These errors in thinking are known as cognitive distortions . Cognitive distortions can be either a pseudo-discrimination belief or an over-generalization of something . CBT techniques may also be used to help individuals take a more open, mindful, and aware posture toward cognitive distortions so as to diminish their impact . Mainstream CBT helps individuals replace "maladaptive...coping skills, cognitions, emotions and behaviors with more adaptive ones", by challenging an individual's way of thinking and the way that they react to certain habits or behaviors, but there is still controversy about the degree to which these traditional cognitive elements account for the effects seen with CBT over and above the earlier behavioral elements such as exposure and skills training . </P>

Who has developed a cognitive theory of behavior change