The behavioural approach to treating phobias

Question 1

Phobias (AO1)

Answer 1

A group of mental disorders characterised by high levels of anxiety in response to a particular stimulus or group of stimuli.

Question 2

Emotional Characteristics of Phobias (AO1)

Answer 2

Excessive/unreasonable/persistent feelings of anxiety, especially in public. Emotions are cued by the presence of the phobic stimulus.

Question 3

Behavioural Characteristics of Phobias (AO1)

Answer 3

Avoidance (e.g., a person with a phobia of spiders avoids places where spiders may be). Freeze or flight response.

Question 4

Cognitive Characteristics of Phobias (AO1)

Answer 4

Intrusive thoughts – impulses that are perceived as inappropriate or forbidden.

Question 5

Two-Process Model (AO1)

Answer 5

States that phobias are learned through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning (Mowrer 1960).

Question 6

According to the Behavioural Approach, Abnormal Behaviour can be caused by (AO1)

Answer 6

1) Classical conditioning, 2) Operant conditioning, 3) Social learning theory.

Question 7

Mowrer (1947) (AO1)

Answer 7

Put forward a two-process model to explain how phobias are learned through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning.

Question 8

Pavlov (1903) (AO1)

Answer 8

Discovered classical conditioning in his work with dogs, where dogs learned to salivate at the sound of a bell.

Question 9

Watson & Rayner (1920) (AO1)

Answer 9

Conducted a laboratory experiment to examine whether a fear response could be learned through classical conditioning in humans.

Question 10

Strengths of the Behaviourists’ Explanation of Phobias (AO3)

Answer 10

Watson & Rayner (1920) demonstrated classical conditioning in the formation of phobias in Little Albert, who was conditioned to fear white rats.

Question 11

Strengths of the Behaviourist Explanation (AO3) - Application to Therapy

Answer 11

Behavioural explanations have led to successful treatments for phobias, such as systematic desensitisation and flooding.

Question 12

Systematic Desensitisation (AO1)

Answer 12

Helps people unlearn their fear using principles of classical conditioning.

Question 13

Flooding (AO1)

Answer 13

A type of behaviour therapy that prevents people from avoiding their phobias. A client is exposed to the feared stimulus under relaxed conditions.

Question 14

Criticism of the Behaviourist Explanation for Phobias (AO3) - Ignores Cognitive Factors

Answer 14

Ignores the role of cognition in the formation of phobias. Cognitive psychologists suggest that phobias may develop due to irrational thinking (e.g., claustrophobia).

Question 15

What’s the First Stage of the Two-Process Model (AO1)?

Answer 15

Classical conditioning.

Question 16

Weakness: Some Phobias Don’t Follow a Traumatic Experience (AO3)

Answer 16

A person may have a fear of snakes without ever having encountered one. This suggests that some phobias have not been acquired through learning, weakening this explanation.

Question 17

Weakness of Behaviour Explanation of Phobias (AO3)

Answer 17

We may be predisposed to some phobias, such as snakes or spiders, which would have given human ancestors a survival advantage. This means the capacity for certain phobias is ‘hard-wired’, not learned.

Question 18

What’s the Second Stage of the Two-Process Model? (AO1)

Answer 18

Operant conditioning.

Question 19

Counterconditioning (AO1)

Answer 19

The patient is taught a new association that counteracts the original association. They learn to associate the phobic stimulus with a new response, such as relaxation instead of fear.

Question 20

Relaxation (AO1)

Answer 20

The therapist first teaches the patient relaxation techniques, such as focusing on their breathing. Relaxation helps to slow the body’s rapid breathing when anxious.

Question 21

Desensitisation Hierarchy (AO1)

Answer 21

Systematic Desensitisation works by gradually introducing the feared situation one step at a time so it’s not overwhelming. The patient practices relaxation as the situation becomes less overwhelming.

Question 22

Systematic Desensitisation Steps (AO1)

Answer 22

Step 1: Patient is taught to relax their muscles. Step 2: Therapist and patient construct a desensitisation hierarchy. Step 3: Patient gradually works through the hierarchy. Step 4: Patient moves to the next level once they are relaxed. Step 5: Patient masters the feared situation.

Question 23

2 Steps of Flooding (AO1)

Answer 23

Step 1: Patient is taught to relax muscles. Step 2: Patient masters their feared situation in one long session.

Question 24

Evaluation of SD (AO3)

Answer 24

Research has found that SD is successful for a range of phobias. McGrath et al (1990) found that 75% of patients responded to SD.

Question 25

No Appropriate for All Phobias - Weakness of SD (AO3)

Answer 25

SD may not be as effective for phobias with an evolutionary survival component (e.g., fear of the dark, heights, or animals).

Question 26

Effectiveness of Flooding (AO3)

Answer 26

Research shows that flooding is effective for those who stick with it. Choy et al found that flooding was more effective than SD. However, Craske et al found that both methods are equally effective.

Question 27

Individual Differences - Flooding (AO3)

Answer 27

Flooding can be highly traumatic, and patients may quit during treatment. This limits the therapy’s effectiveness for some people.

Question 28

Evaluation of Behavioural Therapies in General (AO3)

Answer 28

Behavioural therapies for phobias are generally faster, cheaper, and require less effort from the patient than other psychotherapies.

Question 29

Strengths of Behavioural Therapies (AO3)

Answer 29

Behavioural therapies are generally quicker, cheaper, and require less effort from the patient. They are also useful for people with little insight into their emotional problems, such as children.

Question 30

Relaxation May Not Be Necessary - Behavioural Therapy Weakness (AO3)

Answer 30

The success of SD and flooding may be more about exposure to the feared stimulus than relaxation. Klein et al (1983) found no difference in effectiveness between SD and supportive psychotherapy, suggesting that cognitive factors (e.g., expectations) may be more important.

Question 31

Rationale (AO1)

Answer 31

A person’s fear response has a time limit. As adrenaline levels decrease, the new stimulus response is associated with a non-anxious response.