Saavedra and Silverman (button phobia)

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

To see if using a type of exposure therapy could reduce the disgust and distress associated with buttons

Question 2

Type of Study

Answer 2

Clinical case study

Self-report measures

Question 3

IV & DV

Answer 3

IV: image exposure therapy to treat button phobia
DV: amount of disgust, on a 9 point scale Feelings Thermometer

Question 4

sample and sample technique

Answer 4

9 yr old Hispanic boy
met the criteria for having a phobia of buttons has symptoms 4 yrs prior to the study.

opportunity sample

Question 5

positive reinforcement

Answer 5

• In vivo (directly facing a feared object)
• Rewarded everytime he shows less fear.
• Every-time he handles more and more buttons

Question 6

Imagery Exposure

Answer 6

• Type of vitro exposure (type of exposure therapy where ppts imagine/visualize the phobia)
• Imagine buttons falling on him
• How it makes him feel

Question 7

results: positive reinforcement

Answer 7

• He approaches buttons more positively
• Levels of distress increased between 2nd and 3rd session
• 5 Buttons, severity 6. 30 Buttons, severity rating 8
• Fear and disgust increased

Question 8

results: imagery exposure therapy

Answer 8

• Distress is lowered
• 100 buttons falling: Distress reduced from 8 to 5 during, then 3 at the end
• After 1 year, the boy felt minimal distress

Question 9

conclusion

Answer 9

1. Imagery exposure can have long term effects

2. Feelings relating to disgust are important when trying to remove a phobia

Question 10

strenght

Answer 10

validity:

• Standardisation= Feelings thermometer
• Longevity of the study
• Qualitative data
• In depth

reliability:
- Quantitative data
- Ethics raised
(Confidentiality etc)

Question 11

weaknesses

Answer 11

validity:

• Demand characteristics: Affected his ratings
• Low generalizability
• Social Desirability

reliability:

• Observer bias: They spent a lot of time together
• Data is subjective