describe and evaluate the behavioural approach to treating phobias

Question 1

what is systematic desensitisation?

Answer 1

1) relaxation techniques ie: breathing exercises
2) anxiety hierarchy
3) gradual exposure to phobic stimulus
4) client moves up hierarchy

Question 2

what is flooding?

Answer 2

1) immediate and prolonged exposure to feared stimulus
2) based on extinction of anxious response
3) quicker than SD but very distressing

Question 3

what is a strength from Gilroy et el’s research on systematic desensitisation?

Answer 3

Gilroy et el found from a follow up on - - 42 patients
- after 33 months
- with a spider phobia
- using systematic desensitisation
—> were less fearful in presence of a phobic stimulus than control group who only used relaxation techniques.

Question 4

what is a strength for systematic desensitisation?

Answer 4

• SD is appropriate for all patients ie: learning/ health difficulties
• more ethical
• lower drop out rates

Question 5

what’s a limitation for flooding?

Answer 5

• its highly traumatic for patients
• high anxiety/ stress
• high drop out rates

Question 6

what’s a limitation of behavioural approach to treating phobias?

Answer 6

• it doesn’t address the underlying causes
• symptom substitution may occur, arise worse later in life
• suggests superficiality of treatment

Question 7

what’s an economic advantage of flooding?

Answer 7

• cost- effective