behavioural approach to treating phobias ao3

Question 1

how is flooding not being suitable for a diverse range of patients a weakness

Answer 1

patients with learning difficulties and anxiety disorders may not be suitable as it can make the process extremely frightening without the understanding of why it is being carried out. it can also mean cognitive therapies are unsuitable because you need to have the ability to reflect on your feelings.

Question 2

how are social phobias a weakness of flooding and systematic desensitisation

Answer 2

more effective at treating object phobias rather than social phobias. its harder to gradually introduce someone to public speaking

Question 3

how is vr technology and garcia-palacios a weakness of treating phobias

Answer 3

vr technology allows for a new kind of exposure therapy. garcia-palacios found that 83% of ps with arachnophobia who underwent vr exposure therapy showed clinical improvement compared to the control group who was 0%. vr might allow for a wider ranger of phobias such as social and agoraphobias to be treated with exposure

Question 4

how does gilroy et al show that desensitisation is effective for certain phobias

Answer 4

gilroy et al followed 42 patients who were being treated for a spider phobia in 3, 45 minute sessions. control group were used by relaxation without exposure. at both 3 months and 33 months those who had followed the process through to exposure were less fearful, shows that exposure therapy can have long lasting effects.