Psychopathology: Phobias

Question 1

Behavioural characteristics of Phobias:

Answer 1

• Panic
• Endurance
• Avoidance

Question 2

Cognitive characteristics of Phobias:

Answer 2

• Cognitive distortions
• Irrational beliefs
• Selective attention

Question 3

Emotional characteristics of Phobias:

Answer 3

• Anxiety

Question 4

What approach explains phobias

Answer 4

Behavioural

Question 5

Outline the Behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Answer 5

• Two process model
  Acquisition by Classical Conditioning
  Maintenance by Operant Conditioning

Question 6

Evaluate the Behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Answer 6

+ Leads to therapy treatment

• Incomplete, doesn’t consider evolutionary factors
• Only for some phobias (doesn’t work if they don’t follow trauma)
• Doesn’t consider cognitive aspects

Question 7

Outline the Behavioural approach to treating phobias

Answer 7

• Systematic desensitisation

- Flooding

Question 8

Evaluate systematic desensitisation

Answer 8

\+ More enjoyable 
\+ Works for lots of patients 
\+ Effective (Gilroy)
- Takes more time 
- Symptom substitution

Question 9

What did Gilroy find

Answer 9

42 patients
treated for spider phobia using systematic desensitisation
compared to control group treating just with relaxation
3 months + 33 months, group showed less fear than control

Question 10

Evaluate Flooding

Answer 10

+ Cheaper and less time

• Less enjoyable
• Symptom substitute
• Less versatile