Phobias

Question 1

Define Phobias

Answer 1

• All phobias are categorised by an ‘excessive fear and anxiety triggered by an object, place or situation.’
• The fear is disproportionate to the object/situation/place.

Question 2

Behavioural Characteristics of Phobias

Answer 2

• Panic: when confronted with a phobic stimulus, this increases levels of anxiety. Often people will scream, cry, run away. Some people (especially children) will freeze in these situations.
• Avoidance: make every effort to avoid the phobic stimulus. Can impact on everyday life.
• Endurance: alternative to avoidance, in which the person will remain in the presence of the phobic stimulus. They will continue to experience high levels of anxiety.

Question 3

Emotional Characteristics of Phobias

Answer 3

• Anxiety: emotional response of anxiety and fear. Anxiety is an unpleasant state of arousal, which stops the person being able to relax and calm themselves down.
• Fear: immediate and extremely unpleasant response we experience when we think or actually encounter the phobic stimulus.
• Emotional responses are unreasonable: go beyond what is acceptable, the fear/anxiety is disproportionate to the phobic stimulus.

Question 4

Cognitive Characteristics of Phobias

Answer 4

• Irrational beliefs: they will often know the fear is irrational, however can’t use reason/logic towards the phobic stimulus.
• Selective attention: if the person sees the phobic stimulus it can be hard to look away from. This attention is not good if the fear is irrational, they are unable to concentrate on anything else.
• Cognitive distortions: perception maybe distorted e.g. the spider is maybe viewed as being a lot bigger than it actually is.

Question 5

How does the Behaviourist Approach EXPLAIN Phobias?

Answer 5

Acquisition of the Phobias via Classical Conditioning. Then Maintenance of Phobias by Operant Conditioning.

Question 6

2 Strengths of the Behaviourist Approach to EXPLAINING Phobias.

Answer 6

Scientific and Useful

Question 7

2 Limitations of the Behaviourist Approach to EXPLAINING Phobias.

Answer 7

Reductionist and Determinist

Question 8

Name the 2 treatments for Phobias

Answer 8

Systematic Desensitisation and Flooding

Question 9

Explain Systematic Desensitisation

Answer 9

• Gradually reduces anxiety
• Uses classical conditioning – learning through association
• Teaches a different response called counterconditioning which replaces old association (anxiety) with new association (calmness).
• Uses relaxation techniques to reduce the stress caused by the phobic stimulus.
• It is impossible to be both anxious and relaxed at the same time (reciprocal inhibition).

Question 10

Define Flooding

Answer 10

A behavioural therapy in which a phobic patient is exposed to an extreme form of phobic stimulus in order to reduce anxiety triggered by that stimulus. This takes place across a small number of long therapy sessions.

Question 11

Explain the Anxiety Hierarchy

Answer 11

• Put together by both client and therapist

* Arranged in an order that gradually increases the anxiety level of the client

Question 12

Define Relaxation Techniques

Answer 12

• Taught relaxation techniques to help the client relax as deeply as they can
• Breathing techniques
• Imagine themselves lying on a beach
• Relaxation can be achieved through drug therapy

Question 13

Define Gradual Exposure

Answer 13

• The patient works their way up the fear hierarchy, starting at the least unpleasant stimuli and practising their relaxation technique as they go.
• When they feel comfortable with this (they are no longer afraid) they move on to the next stage in the hierarchy.
• If the client becomes upset they can return to an earlier stage and regain their relaxed state.

Question 14

Define Sessions and success in Phobias

Answer 14

• The number of sessions required depends on the severity of the phobia. Usually 4-6 session, up to 12 for a severe phobia. The therapy is complete once the agreed therapeutic goals are met.
Exposure can be done in two ways:
• In vitro – the client imagines exposure to the phobic stimulus.
• In vivo – the client is actually exposed to the phobic stimulus.

Question 15

Define Extinction

Answer 15

• Stops the phobic response very quickly
• There is no option for avoidance behaviour – you are made to face your fear
• The client will soon realise that the phobic stimulus is harmless. This is called extinction.
• The learned response is extinguished when they no longer associate fear with the stimulus

Question 16

1 Strengths of the Behaviourist Approach to TREATING Phobias.

Answer 16

Effective

Question 17

3 Limitations of the Behaviourist Approach to TREATING Phobias.

Answer 17

Systematic Desensitisation - Slower than other treatments

Flooding - traumatic and high attrition rate