Behavioural approach to treating phobias

Question 1

systematic desensitisation

Answer 1

a behavioural therapy designed to reduce an unwanted response, such as anxiety, to a stimulus. SD involves drawing up a hierarchy of anxiety-provoking situations related to the phobic stimulus, teaching the patient to relax, and then exposing them to phobic situations. The patient works their way through the hierarchy whilst maintaining relaxation

Question 2

flooding

Answer 2

a person with a phobia is exposed to an extreme form of a phobic stimulus in order to reduce anxiety triggered bu the stimulus - takes place across a small number of long theory sessions

Question 3

counter conditioning

Answer 3

a behavior therapy procedure that uses classical conditioning to evoke new responses to stimuli that are triggering unwanted behaviors; includes exposure therapies and aversive conditioning

Question 4

reciprocal inhibition

Answer 4

impossible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time so one emotion prevents the other

Question 5

what are the three processes involved in SD ?

Answer 5

• anxiety hierarchy
• relaxation
• exposure

Question 6

Anxiety hierarchy

Answer 6

put together by patient and therapist, list of situations related to phobic stimulus that provoke anxiety arranged in order from least to most terrifying

Question 7

Relaxation

Answer 7

therapist teaches the patient to relax as deeply as possible Might involve breathing exercises or alternatively the patient might learn mental imagery techniques

Question 8

flooding

Answer 8

exposed to phobic stimulus whilst in relaxed state, takes place in several sessions Starting from the bottom of the anxiety hierarchy and working your way up until patient can stay relaxed in situations

Question 9

How does flooding work ?

Answer 9

flooding stops phobic responses quickly because no avoidance so they’ll realise phobic stimulus is harmless. Process is called extinction.
Some people achieve relaxation because they become exhausted by own fear response

Question 10

Ethical safeguards

Answer 10

flooding is not unethical but is is an unpleasant experience so it is important that clients give filly informed consent to this traumatic procedure

Question 11

Strength of behavioural approach to treating phobias - systematic desensitisation - acceptable for patients

Answer 11

P: A strength of systematic desentivisation is that it acceptable for patients.
E: Patients tend to prefer it and they tend to choose it over flooding as there is not the same degree of trauma.
E: The low refusal rates and low attrition rates suggest that systematic desentivisation is an appropriate treatment for phobias.
L: Therefore, systematic desentivisation is a more appropriate treatment for phobias than flooding.

Question 12

Strength of behavioural approach to treating phobias - flooding

Answer 12

P: A strength of flooding is that is an appropraite treatment.
E: Flooding is highly effective & quicker than other alternatives.
E: This suggests that flooding is highly appropriate as it has a quick effect.
L: Therefore, this is a strength of flooding as it means the sufferers are free of symptoms as soon as possible and consequently costs them less than systematic desensitisation.

Question 13

Limitation of behavioural approach to treating phobias - flooding

Answer 13

P: A limitation of flooding is that it can be traumatic for patients.
E: This is the most serious issue with flooding. It is not an unethical treatment as patients give their consent, however, patients are often unwilling to see it through to the end.
E: This suggests flooding’s effectiveness is limited due to the extreme nature of the treatment.
L: Therefore, flooding is limited as time and money are wasted preparing patients for them to refuse or not finish the treatment.