Lesson 7: The behavioural appraoch to treating PHOBIAS Flashcards
What is the behavioural therapy used to diminish phobias called?
Systematic desensitisation
Who developed systematic desensitisation
Wolpe
Outline the aim of systematic desensitisation
- Aims to reduce/diminish phobias using CLASSICAL conditioning
- Does this by using classical conditioning to REPLACE the irrational fears and anxiety associated with phobic object WITH calm and relaxed responses
What is the central idea of SD
It impossible to experience two OPPOSITE emotions at the same time
e.g fear and relaxation; this is RECIPROCAL INHIBITION
What is counter conditioning?
process where fear surrounding a phobic object can be cured by learning to remain RELAXED in the presence of their phobic object
State the 3 processes involved in Sytematic desensitisation
1) Fear hierarchy
2) Relaxation techniques
3) Gradual Exposure
Outline what happens during the “Fear hierarchy” stage of SD
1) Hierarchy of fear is constructed by patient and psychologist
2) Situations involving phobic object are ranked from LEAST to MOST fearful
Outline what happens during the “Relaxation techniques” stage of SD
1) Patients are taught relaxation techniques e.g deep breathing, progressive muscular relaxation (PMR) and relaxation techniques
2) PMR- tense muscles as long as possible and then relax them
3) Meditation
Outline what happens during the “Gradual exposure” stage of SD
1) Patient is introduced to their phobic object gradually by working up their fear hierarchy
2) When they feel comfortable with one stage of the fear hierarchy, they move onto the next stage
3) They implement relaxation techniques as the intensity of the scenario involving the phobic object increases
State a POSITIVE EVALUATION of SD
(hint: white rabbit)
-JONES (1924) supports the use of SD to eradicate ‘Little Peter’s’ phobia.
-White rabbit was gradually presented to peter at closer distances + each time anxiety levels lessoned
-Eventually developed affection for the white rabbit which extended to ALL white fluffy objects
State a POSITIVE EVALUATION of SD
(hint: less traumatic)
- SD is LESS traumatic than other behavioural therapies e.g FLOODING
-SD has less ethical complications (psychological harm) and is LESS UPSETTING for the patient to endure
State a NEGATIVE EVALUATION of SD
( HINT: hard applications)
- Not always practical for individuals to be densitized by confronting real life PHOBIC situations.
-Real step-by-step situations are difficult to arrange and control e.g if an individual may be scared of sharks
What is flooding?
A type of behavioural therapy that involves directly exposing the patient to their PHOBIC OBJECT
Outline the procedure of flooding
- Patient is taught relaxation techniques e.g muscle relaxation deep breathing + meditation
- Immediate exposure to the phobic object
What does flooding NOT involve
- The patient gradually working their way up a fear hierarchy
Why does flooding stop phobic responses very quickly?
- Patient has NO OPTION for avoidant behaviour
- Realisation that the phobic object is HARMLESS
- Extinction occurs
Is flooding ethical?
YES.
even though flooding can cause a great deal of PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM initially, the patient would have given their INFORMED CONSENT to participate in this therapy
State a POSITIVE EVALUATION of flooding (AO3)
(hint: COST-EFFECTIVE)
-It is COST-EFFECTIVE in comparison to other therapies e.g cognitive therapies
- Flooding is quick which is advantageous as this means patients get rid of their symptoms as soon as possible
State a POSITIVE evaluation of flooding
(hint: Phobia of cars)
-Wolpe supports the idea of FLOODING
-The patient was forced into a car and driven around for hours until her HYSTERIA was ERADICATED
-Showing how effective flooding is as a treatment for phobias
State a NEGATIVE evaluation of flooding
(HINT; highly traumatic)
-Highly traumatic + patients may be unwilling to continue with this form of therapy
-Time and money is wasted preparing patient for the flooding experience
-Potentially a waste of time and money if patient refuses to participate
State a NEGATIVE evaluation of flooding
(Hint: social phobias)
-Less effective in treating particular types of phobias e.g SOCIAL PHOBIAS
-Social phobias have COGNITIVE aspects that flooding cannot address
-Therefore cognitive therapies may be more useful in treating this type of phobia e.g fear of speaking in publuc
