behavioural approach to treating phobias ao1 Flashcards
list the two main ways to treat phobias according to the behavioural approach and the two process model
systematic desensitisation and flooding
define reciprocal inhibition
two opposite emotions cant be held at the same time, so a therapist can train their patients to interact with a phobic stimulus without fear to successfully counter-condition them
define systematic desensitisation
uses classical conditioning to treat the anxiety being experienced where a new response to the phobic stimulus will be learned. the stimulus is paired with relaxation rather than panic (counter-conditioning) to enforce reciprocal inhibition.
list the three processes of systematic desensitisation
relaxation, anxiety hierarchy and exposure
describe the first process of systematic desensitisation
relaxation: the therapist teaches the patient to relax as much as possible through mindfulness, meditation, mental imagery (imagining themselves in a relaxing situation) or taking a depressant
describe the second process of systematic desensitisation
anxiety hierarchy: put together by the patient and the therapist, list of situations with the phobic stimulus in order of the least frightening to the most frightening
describe the third process of systematic desensitisation
exposure: patient exposed to the phobic stimulus while in a relaxed state, takes place across several sessions starting at the bottom of the anxiety hierarchy. over several sessions they work through the hierarchy together and treatment is successful when the patient can stay relaxed throughout the session. when the client can remain relaxed while at the top of their anxiety hierarchy, a new association with relaxation has been formed and the counter-conditioning is complete
define flooding
immediate exposure to a phobic stimulus without any gradual build up
how do the length of flooding sessions compare to the length of systematic desensitisation sessions
longer but one long session might be all that is needed to cure the phobia
if a client leaves the flooding session before its conclusion what do they risk reinforcing
their phobia
what does immediate exposure in flooding likely cause in a patient
high levels of stress and panic, fight or flight response, screaming, crying, hyperventilating etc.
what must the therapist keep the client from doing in flooding sessions
escaping
how does the patient form a new association (extinction of classical conditioning) in flooding sessions
the energy required to maintain panic and fear will exhaust the client and they will become relaxed as a result
