Psychopathology - Phobias

Question 1

What is a Phobia?

Answer 1

• An anxiety disorder based on excessive fears, interferes with daily living
• DSM-V Criteria: Specific phobia, social anxiety, agoraphobia

Question 2

What is the Two-Process Model?

Answer 2

• Created by Mowrer (1960) based on the behavioural approach
• Suggests that phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning

Question 3

How does the Two-Process Model suggest phobias are kept?

Answer 3

• Suggests phobias are maintained by operant conditioning
• Operant conditioning takes place when our behaviour is reinforced or punished
• Both Negative and Positive Reinforcement tends to increase behaviour
• Avoiding unpleasant stimuli/situations is also a type of negative reinforcement, resulting in a desirable consequence, meaning the phobia will be repeated.

Question 4

What is a POSITIVE evaluation for the Two-Process Model?

Answer 4

Has good explanatory power, explains how phobias are maintained over time and has important implications for therapies

Question 5

What is a/are NEGATIVE evaluation(s) for the Two-Process Model?

Answer 5

• Alternate explanations for avoidance: not all avoidance associated with phobias seem to be the result of anxiety reduction, rather motivated by positive feelings of safety, e.g. agoraphobia
• Incomplete explanation of phobias: Bounton (2007) suggested that evolutionary factors probably have an important role in phobias, e.g. fear of the dark = source of danger from the past; Seligman (1971) referred to this as biological preparedness - the innate predisposition to acquire certain fears

Question 6

What are the methods of therapy for phobias?

Answer 6

Systematic Desensitisation (Step-by-step approach) and Flooding (Immediate exposure)

Question 7

How does Systematic Desensitisation (Step-by-step approach) work?

Answer 7

• Uses counterconditioning (classical conditioning) to help the client relax in the presence of the phobic stimulus.
• Functions based on Reciprocal Inhibition: We cannot feel fear and relaxation at the same time.
• Step 1: Patient creates a Hierarchy of Fear from least to most frightening
• Step 2: Patient learns relaxation techniques
• Step 3: Patient is gradually exposed to the phobic stimulus while using relaxation, and moves up the fear hierarchy

Question 8

What is a/are POSITIVE evaluation(s) for Systematic Desensitisation?

Answer 8

• Effective in reducing phobic behaviour: Gilroy et al. (2003) 42 arachnophobic patients vs control group (relax only), at 3 months and 33 months treatment group less fearful than control group
• Suitable for a range of phobias: most appropriate method for those who can’t self-reflect
• Acceptable to patients: patients prefer this as it is less traumatic than Flooding and includes relaxation

Question 9

What is Flooding?

Answer 9

• A behavioural Therapy that involves immediate exposure to a frightening experience
• No option of avoidance as patients quickly learn phobic stimulus is harmless (Extinction)

Question 10

What is a/are POSITIVE evaluation(s) for Flooding?

Answer 10

• Cost-effective: at least as effective as other methods, quicker and cheaper

Question 11

What is a/are NEGATIVE evaluation(s) for Flooding?

Answer 11

• Ethically unsafe and traumatic: unpleasant experience so patients must be fully informed before session to avoid trauma
• Less effective for some phobias: less effective for e.g. social phobias and agoraphobia ,due to complex cognitive aspects, anxiety and unpleasant thoughts, CBT is better for this
• Symptom substitution: Common criticism for Flooding and SD, replaces one phobia with another