9. Saavedra and Silverman (2002) - Learning Approach - done

Question 1

Aim of SS (2)

Answer 1

understand the causes of button phobia

to treat the phobia using disgust and fear responces

Question 2

Research method/ design of SS (2)

Answer 2

case study - one participant
data was collected using self report measures

Question 3

Sample of SS (3)

Answer 3

9 year old Hispanic american boy
phobia developed when he was 5 years old when he knocked over the bowl of buttons in front of his class

opportunity sampling - both mother and child gave consent

Question 4

methodology of SS (2)

Answer 4

DSM-IV was used to diagnose his phobia

Feeling thermometer was used 9 point scale of disgust was used throughout the treatment

Question 5

Procedure and interventions of SS (4)

Answer 5

1. disgust/fear hierarchy was made - 0 large denim buttons and 8 - small plastic buttons –> then asked to rate scenarios with buttons (on the feelings thermometer)

Intervention:
Positive reinforcement therapy –> based on operant conditioning. Boy was rewarded for showing less fear and handling them. The mother would provide the positive reinforcement

Imagery exposure –> based on classical conditioning. Imaging the buttons falling on him and consider how they looked and felt etc. the imagining went with the fear hierarchy from 0 to 8

they used self control methods and cognitive strategies to change his way of thinking

Question 6

Results of SS (3)

Answer 6

PRT - he approached the buttons more as sessions went –> his distress levels went higher Despite the behavioural change, evaluative reactions are unchanged or have increased.

IE - successful in reducing the level of distress. In the beginning he rated the experience 8 then middle 5 then 3.

They did follow up after 6 months then 12 and his results on DSM – he did not meet the criteria for phobias

Question 7

Conclusion of SS (2)

Answer 7

Emotions and cognitions relating to disgust are important in the development and maintenance of a phobia.
Imagery exposure has a long-term effect on reducing distress relating to specific phobias as it tackles negative evaluations

Question 8

Strengths of SS (5)

Answer 8

+ high validity – was studied for a long period of time
+standardised measures – feeling thermometer
+Quantitative data – feeling thermometer
+Qualitative data – interview with mom and kid
+Got rid of phobia (high ethics –> better than they came)

Question 9

Weakness of SS (4)

Answer 9

• hard to generalise as it is one boy and a specific phobia
• subjective –> created his own hierarchy and personal ratings
• worked with the experimentors – may contain experimentor bias
• boy may show demand characteristics – was aware he was doing therapy etc may have affected the results