Behavioural Approach To Treating Phobias: Systematic Desensitisation

Question 1

How long does systematic desensitisation take place

Answer 1

Over weeks or even months as it is a gradual stage based process putting patient in charge of own progress

Question 2

How does systematic desensitisation works

Answer 2

Works along principles of classical conditioning
- it reverses the mechanisms of classical conditioning
- believes conditioned phobic stimulus can revert to being a neutral stimulus again by exposing the phobic person to the phobic stimulus

Question 3

What are the three stages of systematic desensitisation

Answer 3

Anxiety hierarchy - list of situations that involve the phobic stimulus from least to most frightening
Relaxation - breathing exercises, visualisation, drug therapy
Exposure - exposure to phobic stimulus starting at the first thing on anxiety hierarchy

Question 4

Research support for systematic desensitisation

Answer 4

Gilroy et al
Studied 42 patients who had SD as a treatment for their spider phobia
Found clients who had so showed greater recovery than he control group
This supports the effectiveness of do as a treatment for phobias

Question 5

Strength of systematic desensitisation (consent)

Answer 5

Patients can give valid consent because client can choose low their programme is directed as they come to an anxiety hierarchy together
They attend sessions out of free will and can choose to withdraw at any time

Question 6

Limitation of systematic desensitisation ( time)

Answer 6

It is a slow process taking on average 6 - 8 sessions.
This requires a lot of professional time which makes the process an expensive process
It at also be too slow for some who may need there fear to be overcome quickly

Question 7

Limitation of systematic desensitisation (usefulness)

Answer 7

Does not treat the cause of the phobia only behvaiour it results in
Inability to address cause of the phobia means that the phobia may return or another phobia may replace the original phobia
So has limited usefulness

Question 8

Strenght of systematic desensitisation (ethics)

Answer 8

Is much more ethical than flooding as it involves gradual exposure to the object the patient fears this means the treatment is far less stressful for a participant and should not cause damage