The Behavioural Approach to Treating Phobias

Question 1

What are the two treatments to treating phobias?

Answer 1

• Systematic Desensitization
• Flooding

Question 2

What is the definition of ‘Systematic Desensitization’?

Answer 2

• A behavioral therapy designed to reduce an unwanted response, such as anxiety to a stimulus.

Question 3

What is the process of ‘Systematic desensitization’?

Answer 3

• An anxiety Hierarchy is created where the individual and the therapists create a list of fear inducing scenarios related to a specific phobia. They are ranked from least to most fear inducing.
• The patient goes under relaxation training where the therapist teaches the client to relax as much as possible through relaxation techniques like breathing exercises.
• They then go through gradual exposure where they are finally exposed to the phobic stimulus following the anxiety hierarchy whilst they are in a relaxed state.
• The treatment is deemed successful if the person can stay relaxed in situations on the anxiety hierarchy.

Question 4

What are the two types of Systematic Desensitization?

Answer 4

• In Vitro
• In Vivo

Question 5

What is ‘In Vitro’?

Answer 5

• Where the client imagines exposure to the phobic stimulus.

Question 6

What is ‘In Vivo’?

Answer 6

• Where the client is physically exposed to the phobic stimulus.

Question 7

What is the definition of ‘Flooding’?

Answer 7

• A behavioral therapy in which a phobic client is exposed to an extreme form of a phobia in order to reduce anxiety.

Question 8

What is the process of ‘Flooding’?

Answer 8

• A person with a specific phobia is exposed immediately to the most extreme situation.
• Flooding works by stopping phobic responses quickly. With flooding a person is unable to avoid and therefore negatively reinforce, their phobia and through continuous exposure, anxiety levels decrease. This is because phobic stimulus is harmless.
• Typically longer than SD and sometimes only one session is needed.
• Client needs to give fully informed consent