Approaches to explaining and treating - Phobias Flashcards
All of psychopathology (23 cards)
What approach is used to explain/treat Phobias ?
What is it ?
The behavioural approach
It explains behaviour in terms of what is observable
How phobias can be learnt/maintained
What is the two-process model ?
Mowrer (1960)
Phobias are learnt through (classical conditioning)
Phobias are maintained through (operant conditioning)
Explain learning phobias through classical conditioning
Learning to associate something that we have no fear of (neutral stimulus)
With something that already triggers a fear response (unconditioned stimulus).
- Loud noises can be associated with rats then develop fear of rats (little albert)
What was the Little Albert experiment
Watson/Rayner - Created a phobia in 9month Albert
Start - shown a white rat - Showed no anxiety (NS)
During - When rat shown researchers made loud noise (UCS) Create (UCR) of fear.
When the rat the (ns) and the loud noise (UCS) encountered close together in time. - (NS) become associated with the (UCS)
Both of them now produce the fear response
Albert now showed fear when he saw the rat
Rat = (CS) - Learnt Phobia
Rat = Produces a (CR) - Fear
How did this generalise similar objects - Little Albert experiment
Showed him other Furry objects
White rabbit - Santa Beard
Showed distress at all of the stimuli
Showing how phobias can form through association
Explain maintaining phobias - Through operant conditioning
Responses learnt through CC can decline with time.
Phobias = long lasting
OC - Takes place when behaviour is reinforced (rewarded or punished)
Reinforcement = increased frequency of the behaviour
Negative reinforcement - Individual will avoid a situation that is unpleasant.
Leading to a desirable consequence (not feeling the fear) so the behaviour is repeated (avoiding the phobic stimuli)
The phobia is then maintained - would feel fear when encountering it again.
Evaluation - Strength - Real-world application
Real world application: Therapies to help treat phobias
Phobias are maintained by avoidance to the phobic stimulus.
Help explain why people with phobias benefit from being exposed to it.
If the avoidance behaviour is prevented it stops being reinforced.
Shows a means to treating phobias.
Example - Exposure to dogs
Evaluation - Negative - cognitive aspects not explained
Cognitive aspects of phobias: not account for cognitive aspects.
Only explain behaviour - Phobia = avoidance behaviour
But phobias are not just avoidance responses.
People will have (irrational beliefs about the phobic stimulus).
Explains avoidance behaviour but not phobic cognitions
The two process model does not completely explain symptoms of phobias
Evaluation - Positive - Phobias as traumatic experiences
Link between bad experiences and phobias:
Little Albert (explains this) Frightening experience - phobia
Systematic - Fearing dental treatment linked to traumatic experiences
Association of pain and dentists
what is a counterpoint to phobias as traumatic experiences
Not all phobias come from a bad experience
Fears of snake can be innate - natural to be scared of one for survival (ancestry)
A lot of people are scared of them despite not being in contact with them or having a traumatic experience linked to them.
What are the 2 behavioural approaches to treating phobias ?
Systematic desensitisation
Flooding
What is systematic desensitisation ?
Behavioural therapy that gradually reduces phobic anxiety through classical conditioning.
If they can relax in presence of the phobic stimulus they will be cured.
What are the 3 processes in SD ?
The anxiety hierarchy
Relaxation
Exposure
SD - Explain The anxiety hierarchy
Put together by client with the phobia and the therapist.
List of situations related to the phobic stimulus that provoke anxiety.
In order from least to most scary
Fear of dogs: Holding a picture of one low but being next to and touching one as high.
SD - Explain relaxation
Therapist teaches client to relax as deeply as possible.
Reciprocal inhibition - Replacing anxiety with relaxation
Breathing exercises
Mental imagery techniques - Imagine self in relaxing situation.
SD- Explain Exposure
Last step
Client exposed to phobic stimulus while in relaxed state.
Multiple sessions starting from bottom of anxiety hierarchy.
Can move up hierarchy when can stay relaxed on lower levels of phobic stimulus
Treatment successful - client can stay relaxed in situations high on the anxiety hierarchy.
Evaluation of SD - Positive - Evidence of effectiveness
Gilroy - 2003
Followed up 42 people who had SD treatment for spider phobia.
The people who had done the treatment were less fearful than a control group treated with relaxation without exposure.
Evaluation of SD - Positive - People with learning disabilities
Can help people with learning disabilities.
People with learning disabilities often struggle with cognitive treatments. ( Complex rational thought)
SD = More appropriate treatment
What is Flooding?
Exposing people to the phobia but without the gradual build up.
Immediate exposure to a very frightening situation.
Spider - Having large spider crawl on them for extended period.
2-3 hours sessions
Sometimes only one long session is needed to cure a phobia
How does it work ?
It stops phobic responses very quickly.
No option for avoidance behaviour and so learn quickly that there is no threat.
Classical conditioning - Extinction:
Learnt response disappears when the CS is encountered without the US
(A dog - CS- without being Bit (US).
Response of fear gone
Relaxation can also happen when client so tired from the fear response.
Why does there need to be Ethical safeguards ?
Flooding can be unpleasant.
Needs to be fully informed consent.
Client can be given choice to do SD or Flooding
Evaluation - Flooding - Positive - Cost effective
Clinically effective and not expensive
Can work in one session and can allow for longer sessions.
More people can be treated at the same cost.
Evaluation - Flooding - Limitation - Traumatic
Highly unpleasant experience
Confronting the phobic stimulus can provoke a lot of anxiety.
Ethical issue - Knowingly causing stress to clients - Not to serious as long as they give informed consent.
Drop out rates are higher
Therapists may not choose to use this treatment.
