Learning - Saavedra + Silverman

Question 1

What is the psychology being investigated?

Answer 1

1. Evaluative learning: person comes to percieve previously neutral object / event negatively
2. Operant conditioning: learning by conseqeunces (reinforcement / punishment)
3. Classical conditioning: learning through association
   UCR becomes linked to previously linked neutral stimulus
4. Phobias: irrational fear of object, situation

Question 2

What are the aims of the study?

Answer 2

1. Investigate the causes of a button phobia in a child
2. To attempt to treat a childs phobia of buttons via targeting both disgust + fear responses

Question 3

Describe the participant

Answer 3

• 9 year old boy
• Hispanic American
• from child anxiety + phobia program
• Florida international university
• boy + mom gave informed consent
• boy met DSM - IV criteria for specific phobia
• phobia started when 5 been living w condition for 4 years

Question 4

describe the method

Answer 4

• Case study
• longitudinal design
• follow up sessions at 6 + 12 months
• 30 mins alone
• 20 mins w mother

Question 5

when did phobia begin?

Answer 5

• working on art project
• ran out of buttons
• for poster board
• bowl of buttons fell on him
• distressed avoidance of buttons increased

Question 6

how was data collected

Answer 6

• both boy + mom interviewed by researcher abt phobia
• boy observed thru treatment sessions see if any improvment
• results of treatment measured on 9 point scale of distress
• feeling thermometer + structured interview + observation

Question 7

hierarchy of disgust / fear

Answer 7

• 9 point scale
• most difficult > small plastic buttons (clear) + small plastic buttons (coloured)
• most easy > large denim jean buttons

Question 8

procedure + results of gradual exposure

Answer 8

• 1st phase of therapy
• gradual exposure to buttons
• 4 sessions > 50 mins (30+20)
• POSITIVE: tolerate more buttons w each exposure
• NEGATIVE: feeling thermometer increased dramatically between 2 + 3 and 3 + 4
• boy reported being more distressed by medium coloured buttons + hugging mom when wearing large plastic buttons
• feeling of fear / disgust increased

> finding consistent w previous research into evaluative learning despite repeated exposure to phobic object the disgust remained unchanged / increased

Question 9

procedure + results of disgust related imagery exposure

Answer 9

• involved visualisation techniques
• boy reported finding buttons touching body disgusting + buttons smelt unpleasant
• over 7 sessions: asked to imagien buttons falling on him, think abt how they looked, felt, smelt > (talk abt how he felt)
• each session self report taken of boys subjective ratings of distress using feelings thermometer
  > after imagery exposure therapy boys ratings of distress decreased

Question 10

follow up

Answer 10

• 6 + 12 month follow up were conducted
• boy reported feeling minimal distress over buttons
• no longer met DSM IV criteria for specific phobia of buttons
• was able to wear small clear plastic buttons on his school uniform on daily basis

Question 11

What is the conclusion from the study

Answer 11

1. evaluative learning is useful way of understanding the role of disgust in childhood specific phobia
2. while exposure therapy w positive reinforcement was successful in changing observable behaviour
3. Imagery exposure can have long term, positive effect on reducing negative evaluations towards phobic stimulus (disgust)