Behavioural approach to treating phobias

Question 1

Systematic desensitisation

Answer 1

Behavioural approach designed to gradually reduce phobic anxiety through CC

Question 2

First process involved in SD

Answer 2

Anxiety hierarchy - list of situations related to the phobic stimulus that provoke anxiety arranged in order

Question 3

Second process involved in SD

Answer 3

• Impossible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time (reciprocal inhibition)
• Therapist teaches client to relax as deeply as possible

Question 4

Third process involved in SD

Answer 4

Client is EXPOSED to phobic stimulus while in relaxed state across several sessions
When client can stay relaxed at lower levels, move up hierarchy

Question 5

Strength of SD

Answer 5

Gilroy follwed up 42 people who had SD for spiders in 3 45min sessions
At both 3 and 33 months, SD group less fearful than a control group treated by relaxation without exposure

Question 6

Strength of SD (disabilities)

Answer 6

Can be used to treat people with learning disabilities
People with learning disabilities often struggle with cognitive therapies that require a high level of rational thought

Question 7

Flooding

Answer 7

Immediate exposure to a very frightening situation

Question 8

How does flooding work?

Answer 8

Learned respose is extinguished when the conditioned stimulus is encountered without the unconditioned stimulus
Result is that the conditioned stimulus no longer produces the conditioned response

Question 9

Strength of flooding

Answer 9

Highly cost effective - can work in as little as one session

Question 10

Limitation of flooding

Answer 10

Highly unpleasant experience - dropout rates are higher