The behavioural approach to treating phobias Flashcards
What are the two therapies that look to treat phobias?
Systematic desensitisation and flooding.
State and define the process involved in both methods of treating phobias.
Counterconditioning: fear response is replaced by a relaxation response (classical conditioning).
What is the first step in systematic desensitisation?
Teach the patient relaxation techniques. For example, breathing slowly, being mindful and visualising a peaceful setting. Or progressive muscle relaxation.
What is the second step in systematic desensitisation?
Desensitisation hierarchy. Patient gradually exposed to different degrees of the stimulus. E.g. picture of spider, spider from distance, fat massive scary spider on face!
What is the process involved in flooding?
Taught relaxation techniques as in SD. Patient immediately exposed to worst (within reason) form of phobia for an extended period of time. Continues into anxiety has disappeared.
What two categories of flooding are there?
In vivo - real life
Virtual reality - simulated
What is the rationale behind flooding?
Fear response has a time limit. Adrenaline levels will naturally decrease. New stimulus response is learned (non-anxious).
(AO3) What is the effectiveness of SD?
Research ~ 75%. In vivo more successful. Virtual reality and modelling a non-fearful response can also be effective. Suggests value of funding etc. and a number of different exposure techniques may be best.
(AO3) What is the main weakness of SD?
Not effective for all phobias. Good for phobias learned from personal experience, not for evolutionary phobias e.g. heights. Counterconditioning only good for conditioned phobias. More research needed for other treatments.
(AO3) What is the strength of flooding?
Research suggests it is ~ same effectiveness as SD. Only works if patient does wait until fear response is reduced. Very cost and time effective.
(AO3) Why are individual differences a key weakness of flooding?
Different fear responses for different people and phobias. Can be a traumatic procedure - quit halfway through and reduce effectiveness. May make phobia worse.
