behavioural treatments of phobias

Question 1

what is systematic desensitisation?

Answer 1

• uses counter conditioning to unlearn a phobia by electing a relaxation response

Question 2

what are the 3 phases of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 2

1. the client and therapist develop a fear hierarchy, they rank the phobic situation from least to most terrifying
2. the patient is taught relaxation techniques
3. the patient is exposed to their phobic situation while relaxed, its based on the theory of reciprocal inhibition that two emotional states cannot co exist, so the relaxation should overcome the anxiety. they start at the bottom of the fear hierarchy, and when they feel relaxed they move up until they’re completely relaxed in the most feared situation

Question 3

give a strength of systematic desensitisation
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Answer 3

research evidence supports the effectiveness of the treatments. mcgrath et al (1990) found 75% of patients with phobias were successfully treated with systematic desensitisation, and this was particularly true using in vivotechniques when the patient came in direct contact with the feared stimulus. shows that systematic desensitisation is effective in treating phobias, strengthening the behaviourist theory

Question 4

give a strength of systematic desensitisation
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Answer 4

research support from gilroy et al (2002). examined 42 patients with arachnophobia, each was treated with three 45 minute systematic desensitisation sessions. when examined 3 and then 33 months later, the group taught systematic desensitisation were less fearful than the group just taught relaxation techniques (control group). supports systematic desensitisation as an effective long term treatment for phobias

Question 5

give a strength of systematic desensitisation
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Answer 5

favoured over flooding as it is more ethical. patients report a preference for systematic desensitisation as it often doesn’t cause the same level of distress that flooding does. this is reflected in the number of patients who persist with systematic desensitisation. its considered a more appropriate treatment for people with learning difficulties or who suffer from anxiety, since the relaxation can be a positive experience

Question 6

give a limitation of systematic desensitisation
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Answer 6

not effective in treating all phobias. people with phobias that haven’t developed through CC can’t be effectively treated with systematic desensitisation. some psychologists suggest there a phobias with an evolutionary basis that aren’t due to learning. this suggests that systematic desensitisation is not effective for treating all phobias, particularly evolutionary ones with an innate basis

Question 7

what is flooding?

Answer 7

• immediately exposes the patient to the most anxiety inducing stimulus
• the intense exposure is done over an extended period of time and in a safe and controlled manner
• the person is unable to avoid (negatively reinforce) their phobia, this causes extinction to occur as fear is a time limited response that will subside
• as exhaustion sets in the patient may feel calm, creating a new positive association with the stimulus

Question 8

give a strength of flooding
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Answer 8

cost effective treatment. although research proves it is equally effective to other treatments it takes much less time to achieve the positive results. this means patients cure their phobias quicker, which makes it a more cost effective solution for health care providers as they don’t have to fund longer lasting treatments

Question 9

give a limitation of flooding
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Answer 9

can be highly traumatic due to high levels of anxiety it creates. wolpe (1969) recalled a case where a patient became so anxious she required hospitalisation. although flooding isn’t unethical as patients provide fully informed content, many of them do not complete their treatment due to the negative effects it has on them. therefore flooding can be a waste of time and money if patients don’t complete the full treatment

Question 10

give a limitation of flooding
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Answer 10

although it is highly effective for simple phobias, it is less so for other types, such as social phobias or agoraphobia. psychologists suggest social phobias may be the result of irrational thinking and not a learnt experience. so more complex phobias can’t be treat by behavioural treatments like flooding and may be better treated by other forms of treatment to help the irrational thinking, like CBT

Question 11

give a limitation of flooding
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Answer 11

there is the issue of symptom substitution. although one phobia may be removed through counter conditioning, if the underlying cause of the phobia isn’t addressed and treated, it will remain and resurface in a different way, such as a new phobia. so flooding may not be fully effective in treating phobias.