Phobias

Question 1

2 behavioural characteristics of phobias

Answer 1

Panic and avoiding the stimulus

Question 2

2 emotional characteristics of phobias

Answer 2

Anxiety and unreasonable emotional response

Question 3

2 cognitive characteristics of phobias

Answer 3

Selective attention (can’t focus on anything but the stimulus£ and irrational beliefs.

Question 4

What is the behavioural approach to how we obtain phobias?

Answer 4

Through classical conditioning where the stimulus begins as neutral but is associated with and unconditioned stimulus and produces the unconditioned response of fear.

Question 5

How does the behaviourist approach explain maintaining phobias?

Answer 5

With operant conditioning, we maintain it with reinforcement. When the person moves away from the phobic stimulus they feel reduced anxiety so the phobia gets negative reinforcement.

Question 6

Explaining phobias

Strength-real life application

Answer 6

The two process model is used in exposure therapies like systematic desensitisation where they prevent the patient from creating more negative reinforcement.

Question 7

Explaining phobias

Weakness-doesn’t explain biological fears

Answer 7

The two process model doesn’t explain why we innately fear some things like snakes more than other things. Even when we have no experience with snakes or sharks, we fear them.

Question 8

Explaining phobias

Strength-supporting evidence

Answer 8

Little Albert study by Watson and Rayner supports classical conditioning. They would make loud noises when he touched a white rat and he became afraid of anything that resembled a white rat.
Also Ad de Jongh found that 73% of people with a dental phobia had a bad experience with a dentist.

Question 9

1st stage of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 9

The anxiety hierarchy is constructed with the patient and therapist.

Question 10

2nd stage of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 10

The patient is taught relaxation techniques.

Question 11

3rd stage of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 11

The patient is exposed to the phobic stimulus, moving up the hierarchy when they are comfortable.

Question 12

Describe flooding

Answer 12

Immediate exposure to the phobic stimulus with no escape.

Question 13

Evaluation of S.D

Strength-supporting evidence

Answer 13

Gilroy followed up 42 people who used S.D for a spider phobia and at both 3 and 33 months after treatment, the S.D group were less fearful than than a control group treated by just relaxation, not exposure.

Question 14

Evaluation of S.D

Strength-suitable for diverse patients

Answer 14

S.D alternatives like flooding aren’t appropriate for people with learning disabilities because it would be traumatic and cognitive therapies require too much rational thought. So S.D is best for them.

Question 15

S.D evaluation

Strength-using VR

Answer 15

VR can be used for exposure to phobic stimulus in a safe way and cheaper without leaving the room. However could lack realism and be less effective.

Question 16

Flooding evaluation

Strength-cost effective

Answer 16

It can work in one session rather than 10 for S.D so more people can be treated.

Question 17

Flooding evaluation

Weakness-traumatic

Answer 17

Attrition (drop out) rates are much higher than for S.D. Raises protection from harm issues.

Question 18

Flooding evaluation

Weakness-symptom substitution

Answer 18

Only tackles symptoms and not underlying causes. Symptom substitution onto something présent during flooding.