11. The Behavioural Approach To Treating Phobias AO3

Question 1

Name a strength of systematic desensitisation

Answer 1

Suitable for a diverse range of patients - the most appropriate treatment for all

Question 2

Explain why SD may be the better therapy choice

Answer 2

Alternatives such as flooding and cognitive therapies aren’t always well suited to patients - e.g. Having learning difficulties can make it hard to understand what’s happening during flooding

Question 3

Name a limitation of flooding

Answer 3

Less effective for some types of phobia

Question 4

Why may flooding be less affective than other types of treatment

Answer 4

Although highly effective for simple phobias - less effective for complex phobias e.g. Social phobias

Question 5

Why may flooding be more effective on smaller phobias rather than more complex ones

Answer 5

Maybe because social phobias have cognitive aspects - e.g. Sufferer of social phobia doesn’t simply experience anxiety but thinks unpleasant thoughts about social situation - may benefit more from cognitive therapies tackling irrational thinking

Question 6

Name two limitations of flooding

Answer 6

• less effective for some types of phobias

- traumatic for patients

Question 7

Name potentially the biggest issue with flooding

Answer 7

Is highly traumatic for patients

Question 8

Why is flooding being traumatic an issue

Answer 8

Problem isn’t being unethical - patients are often unwilling to seeing it through to end

Question 9

Why is the traumatic nature of flooding a limitation for the therapy

Answer 9

Ultimately means treatment isn’t effective - time and money have wasted preparing patients only to have them refuse to start/complete treatment