Behavioural Approach To Phobias Flashcards
(21 cards)
Specific phobias
Spiders
Blood
Aeroplanes etc
Social phobias
Performance anxiety such as eating in public or speaking in public
Agoraphobia
Fear of the outdoors
Being trapped in a public space where escape is difficult or embarrassing
Phobia
An extreme irrational fear leading to intense anxiety and avoidance of an object or situation
How would learning theory explain phobias?
All phobias are learned
How are phobias started and maintained?
Started by classical conditioning
Maintained by operant conditioning
Name 2 behavioural therapies for phobias
Systematic desensitisation
Flooding
What are the 3 phobias recognised by DSM
Specific
Social
Agoraphobia
Systematic desensitisation
Gets rid of phobias through classical conditioning- replaces fear with relaxation
1) teach them relaxation techniques
2) make anxiety hierarchy
3) gradual exposure of hierarchy until relaxed in each situation
2 types of exposure
In vitro
In vivo
in vitro
Clients imagine fear
In vivo
client actually exposed to fear
What is SD based on
Reciprocal inhibition
reciprocal inhibition
You cannot feel fear and relaxation at the same time
Evidence for SD
Gilroy (2003)- effective for specific phobias e.g. spiders
McGrath (1990)- 75% of people were successfully treated with SD
Strengths of SD
Used on wide range of patients e.g. learning disabilities
Less unethical
In control
Lower attrition rates
Weaknesses of SD
No long term benefits- Craske + Barlow 50% of patients relapsed after 6 months
Need lots of commitment/motivation
In vitro methods are not always effective
Cannot be used for abstract fears e.g. death
Ignores deeper underlying causes such as emotions/thinking Wolpe (1973)
Ignores that phobias are genetic.
flooding
Person will become very anxious, but are not allowed to escape or avoid their phobia. They soon learn that the phobia stimulus is harmless
What are the ethical issues with flooding
Distress
Harm
Can’t withdraw
Strengths of flooding
Effective
Quick
Choy + kaplin- longer lasting than SD
Weaknesses of flooding
Highly traumatic
Higher attrition rate (drop out)
cheaper
