Disadvantages of flooding

Question 1

Name a disadvantage of flooding

Answer 1

Individual differences
Flooding has the potential to increase an individual’s fear response after therapy and we are unable to predict when this could occur
Wolpe in 1969 reported a case of which a client had such an intense anxiety response, flooding therapy resulted in her being hospitalised.
This is a limitation as the existing treatment is more likely to strengthen their fear response as opposed to diminishing it

Question 2

Name a second disadvantage of flooding

Answer 2

It is less effective for complex phobias for example social phobias and agoraphobia
Psychologists have argued that phobias are caused by cognitive processes such as irrational thinking and not by unpleasant experiences
Therefore, complex phobias cannot be treated by behavioural therapy and may seek to find alternative treatment in cognitive therapy (CBT)

Question 3

Name a third disadvantage of Flooding

Answer 3

It can be highly traumatic for patients and cause high levels of stress and anxiety
Because of this, despite the fact that patients provide informed consent, they may not complete their treatment because the experience is too stressful which means that it is a waste of time and money if they do not finish their therapy.