Behaviourist approach to Phobias Flashcards
phobias definition
an overwhelming, debilitating, irrational fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal
behaviourist study of phobias
WATSON & RAYNER (1920)
- little albert (9 mths) presented with a range of stimuli which caused no fear
- 11 mths = metal bar was hit behind him when presented with white rat
- taught to fear it which generalised to other stimuli
emotional characteristics of phobias
- persistent fear
- anxiety
- panic
behavioural characteristics of phobics
- avoidance
- freeze response
- interferes with daily living
cognitive characteristics of phobics
- irrational thinking
- will recognise the fear is excessive/irrational
two process model
PROCESS 1: acquiring the phobia by classical conditioning
PROCESS 2: maintaining the phobia through operant conditioning
examples of reinforcement for phobics
- positive reinforcement = a panic attack can cause attention from people
- negative reinforcement = avoiding the phobia means not experiencing fear
3 ways to treat phobias
- systematic desensitisation
- flooding
- implosion therapy
systematic desensitisation
- phobic creates an anxiety hierarchy
- works through stages with therapist using relaxation & positive reinforcement
flooding
- phobic is immersed in their fear
- eventually adrenaline runs out & they are calm
- new association forms
implosion therapy
- phobic imagines different situation where they would face their fear
evaluation of treatment - positive s
SD IS EFFECTIVE
- mcgrath et al (1990) = 75% effectiveness rate
- BUT choy et al (2007) = in vivo better than in vitro so a range of strategies may be best
evaluation of treatment - positive f
FLOODING WORKS
- craske = equal to SD but it can be highly traumatic & they may quit midway making it worse
another general positive of treatment
cheaper, faster, less effort from patient required than others (CBT eg)
