4 Psychopathology- Phobias Flashcards
phobia
characterised by a persistent and extreme form of fear or anxiety, triggered by a particular object or situation
specific phobia
unrealistic or extreme fear of a discreet situation
social anxiety
from intense fear in social situations
agoraphobia
fear of anywhere where escape is difficult
three behavioural characteristics
-panic
-avoidance
-endurance
panic
(behavioural characteristic)
panic in response to the presence of a phobic stimulus, may involve crying, screaming or shivering
-interferes with their ability to carry out everyday tasks
avoidance
(behavioural characteristic)
undergoing effort to prevent coming into contact with the phobic stimulus, make it hard to go about everyday life
endurance
(behavioural characteristic)
a person persists in the presence of their stimulus, they keep their eyes on it
two emotional characteristics
-anxiety
-intense fear
anxiety
(emotional characteristic)
an unpleasant state of high arousal, preventing a person relaxing, making it difficult to experience any positive emotion
intense fear
(emotional characteristic)
the immediate and extremely unpleasant feeling of fright or terror that we experience when we encounter or think about the phobic stimulus
-excessive and unreasonable most of the time
two cognitive characteristics
-selective attention
-cognitive distortions
selective attention
(cognitive characteristic)
if your phobic stimulus is in your sight, you will not keep your eyes off of it
-feel safer having an eye on the danger incase anything happens
cognitive distortions
(cognitive characteristic)
you view your phobic stimulus has much worse than it is, unrealistic perception
behavioural approach to explaining phobias
phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning
-the two process model
acquisition
-a NS and UCS are associated with eachother
-fear is an involuntary response
maintenance
-maintained by negative reinforcement, reward or relief of the anxiety
supporting study
evaluation of behavioural approach explaining phobias
-little albert study by watson and rayner
-he acquired phobias of white, fluffy animals through classical conditioning
opposing ideas
evaluation of behavioural approach explaining phobias
research to refute this explanation from Dinardo
-he found that only half of the people that had a frightening experience of dogs went on to develop a phobia of dogs
-individual differences in susceptibility to acquiring phobias
ignores biological approach for phobias
-genetic mutations from past generations, evolution from survival
determinism
evaluation of behavioural approach explaining phobias
this explanation suggests phobias are environmentally determined and when a NS and UCS are associated which causes a phobia to develop
-ignores influence of conscious decision-making
application
evaluation of behavioural approach explaining phobias
has useful practical application in treating phobias
-SD aims to substitute fear for calm as they work through an anxiety hierarchy
-cannot be unlearnt
what treatments for phobias are available
systematic desensitisation and flooding both use the principles of classical conditioning to replace a person’s phobia with relaxation
systematic desensitisation
the use of classical conditioning. patients learn in stages to replace fear responses with calm responses when phobic stimulus is present
-reciprocal inhibition (anxiety and relaxation cannot be experienced at the same time)
-anxiety hierarchy is constructed
-at each stage, relaxation strategies are used (visualisation, breathing and muscle techniques)
SD- supporting studies
AO3
Gilfroy et al 2005
-showed that computer aided exposure was effective with spider phobia treatment
-more effective than relaxation placebo treatment
-SD is effective and lasts the longest
SD- empowerment
AO3
patients are in control and are actively involved in the pace of the treatment, move onto the next stage when relaxed and ready
-have free will over the process
-constructs anxiety hierarchy with therapists
low numbers of dropouts as this treatment is favoured by the patient
SD- symptoms vs root cause
AO3
does not treat the root cause of the phobia
-substitutes fear for relaxation and focuses on the symptoms
-fails to consider the cause and trauma behind
-the phobia can reapper and reoccur
SD- time
AO3
SD is a time consuming treatment
-it can last 6-8 sessions on average
-can cause people to drop out as it takes a long time to complete
SD- opposing treatments
AO3
flooding is an alternative treatment which involved directly facing fears in a controlled setting with intense exposure
SD is less traumatising and is preferred by patients
drug treatments e.g. antidepressants cause no social interaction, cheaper, used to address underlying causes and behaviours associated with phobias
-have to be committed to taking them and there are side effects
flooding
involves the principles of classical conditioning and unavoidable exposure
-the patient is unable to avoid their phobia through continuous exposure, anxiety levels start to decrease as they cannot be maintained at such high levels for a long time.
-relaxation techniques are used during this time, such as muscle relaxation
-or relaxation is achieved as they are exhausted of their own fear response
flooding- supporting study
AO3
Keare et al (1989)
-veterans received 14-16 sessions of this therapy, suggesting that flooding can effectively extinguish phobias, they had fewer terrifying flashbacks, less anxiety and depression
flooding- ethics
AO3
it is an unethical approach to treating phobias
-sessions are traumatic and can cause more mental problems such as depression, anxiety and PTSD
-can lead to reactions and feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
flooding- symptoms vs root cause
AO3
does not treat the root cause of phobia
-it focuses on acknowledging the fact that the stimulus will not hurt or harm you and you will end up fine
-fails to consider that their phobia could come back with the trauma and root cause still present
flooding- time
AO3
less time consuming and therefore more cost-efficient
-lasts 2-3 hours
-directly solve feelings of fear, whereas SD can take 6-8 hours over 6-8 weeks
flooding- opposing treatments
AO3
SD or drugs
SD involved gradually substituting feelings of fear with relaxation, patient has control over the pace and the anxiety hierarchy
drug treatments e.g. antidepressants cause no social interaction, cheaper, used to address underlying causes and behaviours associated with phobias
-have to be committed to taking them and there are side effects
