4.3: Treating phobias

Question 1

Tommy is six years old and has a phobia about birds. His mother is worried because he now refuses to go outside. She says, ‘Tommy used to love playing in the garden and going to the park to play football with his friends, but he is spending more and more time watching TV and on the computer’.

A psychologist has suggested treating Tommy’s fear of birds using systematic desensitisation.
Explain why systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to treat Tommy’s phobia (2 marks)

Answer 1

Systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to treat Tommy’s phobia, because
systematic desensitisation is gradual

Question 2

Tommy is six years old and has a phobia about birds. His mother is worried because he now refuses to go outside. She says, ‘Tommy used to love playing in the garden and going to the park to play football with his friends, but he is spending more and more time watching TV and on the computer’.

A psychologist has suggested treating Tommy’s fear of birds using systematic desensitisation.
Explain why systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to treat Tommy’s phobia (2 marks).
Systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to treat Tommy’s phobia, because
systematic desensitisation is gradual, so what?

Answer 2

Systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to treat Tommy’s phobia, because
systematic desensitisation is gradual, so the anxiety produced in the treatment is limited

Question 3

Tommy is six years old and has a phobia about birds. His mother is worried because he now refuses to go outside. She says, ‘Tommy used to love playing in the garden and going to the park to play football with his friends, but he is spending more and more time watching TV and on the computer’.

A psychologist has suggested treating Tommy’s fear of birds using systematic desensitisation.
Explain why systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to treat Tommy’s phobia (2 marks).
Systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to treat Tommy’s phobia, because
systematic desensitisation is gradual, so the anxiety produced in the treatment is limited, whereas in flooding, what happens?

Answer 3

Systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to treat Tommy’s phobia, because
systematic desensitisation is gradual, so the anxiety produced in the treatment is limited, whereas in flooding, the most feared situation is presented immediately

Question 4

Tommy is six years old and has a phobia about birds. His mother is worried because he now refuses to go outside. She says, ‘Tommy used to love playing in the garden and going to the park to play football with his friends, but he is spending more and more time watching TV and on the computer’.

A psychologist has suggested treating Tommy’s fear of birds using systematic desensitisation.
Explain why systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to treat Tommy’s phobia (2 marks).
Systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to treat Tommy’s phobia, because
systematic desensitisation is gradual, so the anxiety produced in the treatment is limited, whereas in flooding, the most feared situation is presented immediately, which what?

Answer 4

Systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to treat Tommy’s phobia, because
systematic desensitisation is gradual, so the anxiety produced in the treatment is limited, whereas in flooding, the most feared situation is presented immediately, which would be too traumatic for a small child

Question 5

Tommy is six years old and has a phobia about birds. His mother is worried because he now refuses to go outside. She says, ‘Tommy used to love playing in the garden and going to the park to play football with his friends, but he is spending more and more time watching TV and on the computer’.

A psychologist has suggested treating Tommy’s fear of birds using systematic desensitisation.
Explain why systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to treat Tommy’s phobia (2 marks).
Systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to treat Tommy’s phobia, because
systematic desensitisation is gradual, so the anxiety produced in the treatment is limited, whereas in flooding, the most feared situation is presented immediately, which would be too traumatic for a small child.

What may Tommy not fully understand?

Answer 5

Tommy may not fully understand that consent to flooding would mean immediate exposure to his most feared situation

Question 6

Tommy is six years old and has a phobia about birds. His mother is worried because he now refuses to go outside. She says, ‘Tommy used to love playing in the garden and going to the park to play football with his friends, but he is spending more and more time watching TV and on the computer’.

A psychologist has suggested treating Tommy’s fear of birds using systematic desensitisation.
Explain why systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to treat Tommy’s phobia (2 marks).
Systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to treat Tommy’s phobia, because
systematic desensitisation is gradual, so the anxiety produced in the treatment is limited, whereas in flooding, the most feared situation is presented immediately, which would be too traumatic for a small child.

Tommy may not fully understand that consent to flooding would mean immediate exposure to his most feared situation, so what?

Answer 6

Tommy may not fully understand that consent to flooding would mean immediate exposure to his most feared situation, so his consent to systematic desensitisation increases his protection from harm

Question 7

Briefly outline how flooding might be used to treat a phobia (2 marks)

Answer 7

Flooding involves immediate, direct and full exposure to the phobia and avoidance is prevented

Question 8

Briefly outline how flooding might be used to treat a phobia (2 marks).
Flooding involves immediate, direct and full exposure to the phobia and avoidance is prevented, until what?

Answer 8

Flooding involves immediate, direct and full exposure to the phobia and avoidance is prevented, until:

1. The anxiety has receded
2. The fear is extinguished

Question 9

Briefly discuss one reason why systematic desensitisation might be a more successful treatment for phobias than flooding (2 marks)

Answer 9

Systematic desensitisation (SD) might be a more successful treatment for phobias than flooding, because it allows people to make progress in small steps, within their own time scale, rather than that required by the therapist

Question 10

Briefly discuss one reason why systematic desensitisation might be a more successful treatment for phobias than flooding (2 marks).
Systematic desensitisation (SD) might be a more successful treatment for phobias than flooding, because it allows people to make progress in small steps, within their own time scale, rather than that required by the therapist – what?

Answer 10

Systematic desensitisation (SD) might be a more successful treatment for phobias than flooding, because it allows people to make progress in small steps, within their own time scale, rather than that required by the therapist – the client in control