behavioural approach to treatment of phobias Flashcards
key assumptions of the behavioural approach to treating phobias
-phobias can be treated using the principles of classical conditioning
-counter conditioning replaces the learnt feared response with a relaxation response
-the process of counter conditioning can occur through a slow process of gradual exposure (systematic desenitisation) intense exposure (flooding)
who developed systematic desensitisation ?
wolpe
what is reciprocal inhibition?
according to systematic desensitisation, two opposing emotional states cannot exist at the same time
what is counter conditioning?
involves patients being taught to associate the phobic stimulus with a new response of relaxation instead of fear so that their anxiety and fear are reduced and therefore ‘desensitised’
how many sessions does SD usually require?
4-12 depending on the severity
process of systematic desensitisation
1)taught relaxation techniques
2)the patient and therapist together construct a fear hierarchy
3)the patient is gradually exposed to each scenario in the hierarchy either through imagining the situation or through physical exposure. when they can remain calm and relaxed at the exposure they can move on to the next step
evaluation of systematic desensitisation
:) systematic desensitisation has been found to be an effective treatment
x-only suitable and effective for a limited number of phobias
:) is relatively fast and easy to administer
:) more ethical and preferable to flooding
what is flooding?
forced and prolonged exposure to the actual fear stimulus in one session. the individual is unable to avoid the phobic stimulus and works by replacing a fear response with a new response of relaxation
a persons fear response will activate…
the sympathetic branch of the automatic nervous system
what does the sympathetic branch release
adrenaline into the blood stream
once the state of bodily arousal has been reached the..
parasympathetic branch ill reverse these effects after a short while
what does the parasympathetic branch do
adrenaline levels decrease
what happens as a result of flooding
a new stimulus response association will have been learned between the phobic stimulus and relaxation
what is the implosion therapy
created in 1960s
modified technique
patients were given detailed descriptions rather than actual exposure of the situations they feared, for 6-9 continuous hours
features of modern day flooding
involving virtual reality instead of actual exposure
