Behavioural Approach To Treating Phobias - Systematic Desensitisation

Question 1

What does SD assume about phobias?

Answer 1

That is a phobia is learned (conditioned), it can be ‘unlearned’ (or counter-conditioned).

Question 2

What does SD aim to do?

Answer 2

Treat the client step by step (systematically) to replace their learned sensitivity or fear response with a harmless response.

Question 3

What is reciprocal inhibition?

Answer 3

When one emotion prevents another emotion. For example, it is impossible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time.

Question 4

What does SD begin to teach the client?

Answer 4

Deep relaxation techniques intended to replace the fear response with calming responses.

Question 5

What is an ‘anxiety hierarchy’?

Answer 5

A step-by-step plan of situations the client would normally struggle to cope with, starting with the least fearful at the bottom and the most fearful at the top.

Question 6

What does the client learn to associate?

Answer 6

The deep relaxation with the least fear-provoking situation, first. Once this is achieved, they can learn to associate the next situation and the next.

Question 7

What are the five evaluation points for SD?

Answer 7

\+ Effective at treating many phobias.
- Not effective for all phobias.
\+ Beneficial for economy.
- Ethical Issues.
\+ Clients prefer it over ‘flooding’.