behavioural approach + phobias

Question 1

Two process model

Answer 1

-The phobia is first developed through classical conditioning e.g. little Albert: white rat (NS) + loud noise (UCS) = fear, crying etc (UCR)
White rat presented on several occasions with loud sound which produced the child’s feared response
Rat (CS) = crying/fear (CR)
-Phobia is then maintained by operant conditioning

Question 2

AO3 Limitation

Answer 2

P- the 2 process model goes beyond Watson + Reyner’s explanation of phobias as it explains that the phobia endures over time.
EV- this has important implications for therapies as it explains why patients have to be exposed to the feared stimulus- they need to be prevented from practicing their avoidance behaviours so that the behaviour stops being rewarding
Ex- However, the 2 process model isn’t a complete explanation as sometimes people develop phobias without having a bad experience e.g. having a fear of sharks despite never meeting one.
L- this means the first process in the model can’t account for all phobias reported, can only explain some phobias

Question 3

Behavioural approach to treating phobias

Answer 3

Systematic desensitisation- uses counter conditioning to replace fear w/ relaxation.
1) Patients learn a relaxation technique e.g. progressive muscle relaxation- where you tense + relax different paters of the body
2) Working w/ the therapist to create a fear hierarchy from least to most feared scenario.
3) The patient imagines the least feared scenario whilst using the relaxation technique, gradually working through the hierarchy
4) When they’re able to face the scenario, they move up the hierarchy, can go from in vitro (seeing their phobia in videos + pics) to actual exposure, e.g. seeing a wasp in person ( in vivo)

Question 4

BA to treating phobias: flooding

Answer 4

Involves a single exposure to the most feared stimuli.
The phobic learns relaxation techniques and this is then exposed to the actual stimulus or a virtual reality version 2-3 hours.
Based on classical conditioning:
-Unavoidable exposure- involves introducing the patient to the highest level of exposure to the phobic stimulus in the most unavoidable + immediate way.
-Extinction- when the body’s ‘alarm’ phase ends, the patient feels emotionally drained but unafraid. If the feared object is still present, the patient will learn to associate it with lack of emotions rather than fear.

Question 5

AO3 of treatments

Answer 5

Strength of SD is that its shown to be effective when treating phobias.
E.g. McGrath reported that 75% of phobics responded to SD.
Success appears to lie with actual contact with the fear stimuli ( in vivo) rather than exposure to pictures or imagining the stimuli (in vitro).
Limitation of flooding is that it’s traumatic.
Many patients actually refuse to see through to the end of the treatment.
E.g. the client may be suffering from a full on panic attack due to being locked in a room with their phobia, where they lack control + as a result withdraw.
Therefore, suggests that flooding is unethical due to the distress it causes to the patient

Question 6

Behavioural characteristics

Answer 6

-Panic- crying, screaming. Children may react differently e.g. freezing, tantrum etc.
-Avoidance- avoidance behaviours can interfere with work, education + social life e.g. a person w/ fears of public toilets may have to limit the time spent away from home
-Endurance- where a person will remain in the presence of the phobic stimulus but continue to experience high levels of anxiety e.g. a person who fears flying, going on holiday by plane.

Question 7

Emotional characteristics

Answer 7

-Anxiety- unpleasant state of high arousal which prevents the person from relaxing + makes it difficult to experience any positive emotion.
-Unreasonable responses- anxiety + fear experienced go way beyond what’s considered to be a reasonable response

Question 8

Cognitive characteristics

Answer 8

-Selective attention- if the person can see the phobic stimuli, they’ll find it difficult to look away as it gives them the best chance to react quickly to the threat e.g. not being able to concentrate when there’s a spider in the room.
-Irrational beliefs- held relating to the phobic stimuli, can increase pressure on the individual to cope in social situations e.g. a social phobia might include irrational beliefs like ‘i must always sound smart’.
-Cognitive distortions- the persons perception of the phobic stimulus might be distorted e.g. someone w/ a fear of wasps might see them as aggressive looking