behavioural approach to treating phobias: Flooding

Question 1

flooding

Answer 1

involves putting the phobic individual in situation where they are forced to face phobia
the inescapable exposure to feared object lasts until the fear response dissapperars
this is beacuse there is a limit to how long the body van sustain a fear response and for it eventually disappar
suggests that the phyical fear response reduces so will the high levels of anxiety linked to the situation

e.g person scared of clowns put into room full of clows until anxiety subsides

Question 2

strength of flooding

Answer 2

cost effective as only involves one session only
advantegous compared to other tretments which require a therapist and course of sessions e.g CBT
therefore, not only cheaper but patient is free of their symptoms quickly

Question 3

weakness of flooding

Answer 3

coudl be seen as inappropriate
due to the itnese traumatic natire of the experience
it is not unethical as patients give informedd consent however the trauma may lead to person not starting or quitting during treatment so has high drop out rate
therefore, may not be suitable for all patients and may not lead to reduction in symptoms
may mean waste of time andd money