behavioural approach to treating phobias; SD

Question 1

what is the basis of SD?

Answer 1

counterconditioning: the patient is taught a new association that runs counter to the original association i.e. relaxation instead of fear

Question 2

what is reciprocal inhibition?

Answer 2

When the response of relaxation stops the response of fear

Question 3

How are phobias treated in sd?

Answer 3

The patient and therapist make an anxiety hierarchy: situations involving the phobic stimulus ranging from least to most frightening. they go through it stage by stage, each time practising relaxation techniques . The treatment is successful when the patient can master situations high on the hierarchy without becoming anxious.

Question 4

what is a strength of SD? (effective)

Answer 4

It is an effective way to treat phobias. McGrath et al found that 75% of patients respond to SD: helpful, effective etc.

Question 5

what is a strength of SD? (£,mins,any1)

Answer 5

relatively easy compared to other treatments such as CBT: doesn’t require alot of thinking or effort & so is accessible for a wide range of ppl, for example those who cannot get insight into their emotions. if it is self administered, it can be quite cheaper

Question 6

what is a limitation of SD & example of why

Answer 6

symptom substitution: this therapy removes the symptoms of the phobia but not the cause. therefore, the causes may resurface in another form .
phobias=projection . Little Hans example: the boy’s problem was an intense envy of his father but he could not express this directly and so his anxiety was projected onto the horse . the phobia was cured when he addressed with problems with his father . just treating the horse phobia would have left the underlying problem