The Behaviourist Therapy

Question 1

What is step three of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 1

Working up the anxiety heirarchy gradually and employing the relaxation techniques at each stage, the pace is decided by the client (graduated exposure)

Question 2

When is generalisation used in systematic desensitisation?

Answer 2

Outside of the therapy session (the relaxation learned should be generalisable to other similar stimuli)

Question 3

What is the aim of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 3

To help the client re-learn a more functional response to their phobic stimulus. This is achieved through classical conditioning. Aims to gradually break down the association (fear response) and replace it with a more functional response (relaxation). This is called counter-conditioning.

Question 4

What is a phobia?

Answer 4

An extreme irrational fear of an object or situation

Question 5

What is in vivo?

Answer 5

Where the client is actually exposed to the phobic stimulus

Question 6

What is in vitro?

Answer 6

Where the client imagines exposure to the phobic stimulus

Question 7

What is reciprocal inhibition?

Answer 7

Two opposing emotions cannot be felt at the same time. For example, fear and relaxation

Question 8

What is step one of systematic desesitisation?

Answer 8

Developing relaxation techniques

Question 9

How does developing relaxation techniques help replace the fear response of the phobic stimulus?

Answer 9

It establishes a new stimulus-response link to the phobic object, allowing for counter-conditioning. Reciprocal inhibition means that fear and relaxation cannot be felt at the same time

Question 10

Relaxation technique examples

Answer 10

Deep breathing techniques and deep muscle massages

Question 11

What is step two of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 11

Creation of the anxiety heirarchy

Question 12

What is step three of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 12

Working up the anxiety heirarchy gradually and employing the relaxation techniques at each stage

Question 13

Describe the Lang and Lazovik (1963) study

Answer 13

Used with students who had a snake phobia, eleven sessions, fear rating fell of participants, for most improvement still evident six months later

Question 14

Describe the Rothbaum et al (2000) study

Answer 14

Used virtual reality (vitro), afraid of flying, after SD 93% of participants agreed to take a test flight, anxiety levels lower than those of control group, improvement was maintained

Question 15

Why is systematic desensitisation not suitable for ‘ancient fears’?

Answer 15

We have been genetically programmed to have them, e.g. fear of the dark, evolutionary explanation

Question 16

Why does systematic desensitisation not treat the actual cause of the fear?

Answer 16

Psychodynamic approach - may be an underlying issue, argue phobias develop due to projection, Little Hans: phobia of horses, actual problem was with his father

Question 17

Why could SD be more suitable than other therapies for use with children?

Answer 17

Compared to drug therapy, more ethical, side effects and struggle to keep up with regime of taking them regularly

Question 18

Why might anxiety felt during the therapy be an ethical consideration?

Answer 18

Goes at the pace of the client, no more anxiety than experience in normal circumstances, choose relaxation technique that works for them, control

Question 19

Why might free will be an ethical consideration for SD?

Answer 19

Client attends sessions on own free will, gives valid consent, and able to choose to withdraw at any time