Psychopathology: The Behavioural Treatments Of Phobias - SD And Flooding TW

Question 1

Name two behavioural treatments for phobias

Answer 1

Systematic desensitisation + flooding

Question 2

Systematic desensitisation uses which behaviourist principle?

Answer 2

Classical conditioning

Question 3

Classical conditioning is learning through..

Answer 3

Association

Question 4

What type of behavioural response is systematic desensitsation used to unlearn?

Answer 4

Maladaptive

Question 5

People with phobias have a condition response to a….

Answer 5

Conditioned stimulus

Question 6

Name the 4 stages of systematic desensitisation

Answer 6

Relaxation

Hierarchy of anxiety

Gradual exposure

Complete treatment

Question 7

In the first stage of systematic desensitisation, what happens?

Answer 7

The patient is taught relaxation techniques

Question 8

What happens in the second stage of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 8

The patient and therapist work together to create a graded scale / hierarchy with the least feared stimulus at the bottom, and the most feared at the top

Question 9

What happens in the third stage of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 9

The patient is gradually exposed to their phobic stimulus

Question 10

When exposed to their phobic stimulus, what must the patient do when completing systematic desensitisation

Answer 10

Use relaxation techniques

Question 11

When two incompatible states of mind cannot co-exist at the same time, this is referred to as ….

Answer 11

Reciprocal inhibition

Question 12

When does the patient progress through a stage in systematic desensitisation?

Answer 12

When they are fully relaxed when exposed to the stimulus

Question 13

When is systematic desensitisation complete?

Answer 13

When the patient is desensitised, and can move through the hierarchy without anxiety

Question 14

“The aim of systematic desensitisation is for the patient to _________ their phobic stimulus with ____________”

Answer 14

Re-associate their phobic stimulus with relaxation

Question 15

“Classical conditioning is learning through consequences”

True or false

Answer 15

False - learning through association

Question 16

Why may systematic desensitsation not be appropriate for all individuals with phobias?

Answer 16

As it requires motivation and commitment

Question 17

Why does systematic desensitsation require motivation + commitment ?

Answer 17

As patients must attend sessions over a long period of time and be exposed to anxiety provoking situations

Question 18

Why may systematic desensitsation be seen as a more appropriate therapy than flooding?

Answer 18

Because the patient has control over their own therapy

Question 19

Gilroy followed 42 people who had systematic desensitsation for which common phobia?

Answer 19

Spiders (arachnophobia)

Question 20

Why are relaxation techniques encouraged when patients are exposed to their phobic stimulus

Answer 20

As two incompatible states of mind cannot co-exist at the same time

Question 21

How is systematic desensitisation different to flooding as a treatment for phobias?

Answer 21

In systematic desensitisation, the patient is gradually exposed

WHEREAS

In flooding, the patient is immediately exposed

Question 22

A student has written the following:

“Systematic desensitisation uses classical conditioning to unlearn phobias. Flooding uses operant conditioning”

Is this correct, or incorrect - why?

Answer 22

Incorrect - both behavioural treatments use classical conditioning

Question 23

Operant conditioning is learning through association

True or false?

Answer 23

False - learning through consequence

Question 24

What is the aim of flooding?

Answer 24

To use classical conditioning to unlearn maladaptive response to stimulus

Question 25

In flooding, the patient is;

A) Immediately exposed to their least feared situation

B) Immediately exposed to their most feared situation

C) Exposed to their most feared situation after relaxation

Answer 25

B - there is no prior stages of relaxation before phobic exposure

Question 26

What emotional and behavioural characteristics will a patient experience when exposed to their phobia in flooding?

Answer 26

Emotional = anxiety

Behavioural = panic

Question 27

What happens to the fear response after a continued exposure to the phobic stimulus in flooding?

Answer 27

It becomes exhausted

Question 28

How long does flooding usually take?

Answer 28

2 - 3 hours

Question 29

What is the process of the patients anxiety disappearing referred to as?

Answer 29

Extinction

Question 30

What does the patient learn about the phobic stimulus through flooding?

Answer 30

That the phobic stimulus is harmless

Question 31

What does the patient learn about the phobic stimulus through flooding?

Answer 31

That the phobic stimulus is harmless

Question 32

Why may flooding be more appropriate than systematic desensitsation?

Answer 32

As it is more cost effective for the NHS, as less time is needed

Question 33

A student has written the following answer:

“Flooding is more appropriate than systematic desensitsation as a treatment for phobias as it requires less motivation and commitment”

Is this correct, or incorrect - and why?

Answer 33

Incorrect - flooding will still require motivation and commitment as you are exposing yourself to your most feared situation immediately

Question 34

Why may flooding not be as effective as systematic desensitsation?

Answer 34

As drop out rates are higher

Question 35

Systematic desensitsation wants patients to re-associate their phobia with _________

Answer 35

Relaxation

Question 36

Which treatment for phobias provides patients with the most control?

Answer 36

Systematic desensitisation

Question 37

How does systematic desensitsation give patients more control over their treatment?

Answer 37

Through helping therapist make hierarchy / are gradually exposed when they feel relaxed

Question 38

Which behavioural treatment would be most appropriate when treating a phobia of sharks?