Lesson 7: The behavioural appraoch to treating PHOBIAS

Question 1

What is the behavioural therapy used to diminish phobias called?

Answer 1

Systematic desensitisation

Question 2

Who developed systematic desensitisation

Answer 2

Wolpe

Question 3

Outline the aim of systematic desensitisation

Answer 3

1. Aims to reduce/diminish phobias using CLASSICAL conditioning
2. Does this by using classical conditioning to REPLACE the irrational fears and anxiety associated with phobic object WITH calm and relaxed responses

Question 4

What is the central idea of SD

Answer 4

It impossible to experience two OPPOSITE emotions at the same time
e.g fear and relaxation; this is RECIPROCAL INHIBITION

Question 5

What is counter conditioning?

Answer 5

process where fear surrounding a phobic object can be cured by learning to remain RELAXED in the presence of their phobic object

Question 6

State the 3 processes involved in Sytematic desensitisation

Answer 6

1) Fear hierarchy
2) Relaxation techniques
3) Gradual Exposure

Question 7

Outline what happens during the “Fear hierarchy” stage of SD

Answer 7

1) Hierarchy of fear is constructed by patient and psychologist
2) Situations involving phobic object are ranked from LEAST to MOST fearful

Question 8

Outline what happens during the “Relaxation techniques” stage of SD

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Outline what happens during the “Gradual exposure” stage of SD

Answer 9

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

Question 10

State a POSITIVE EVALUATION of SD
(hint: white rabbit)

Answer 10

-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

Question 11

State a POSITIVE EVALUATION of SD
(hint: less traumatic)

Answer 11

• 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

Question 12

State a NEGATIVE EVALUATION of SD
( HINT: hard applications)

Answer 12

• 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

Question 13

What is flooding?

Answer 13

A type of behavioural therapy that involves directly exposing the patient to their PHOBIC OBJECT

Question 14

Outline the procedure of flooding

Answer 14

1. Patient is taught relaxation techniques e.g muscle relaxation deep breathing + meditation
2. Immediate exposure to the phobic object

Question 15

What does flooding NOT involve

Answer 15

1. The patient gradually working their way up a fear hierarchy

Question 16

Why does flooding stop phobic responses very quickly?

Answer 16

1. Patient has NO OPTION for avoidant behaviour
2. Realisation that the phobic object is HARMLESS
3. Extinction occurs

Question 17

Is flooding ethical?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

State a POSITIVE EVALUATION of flooding (AO3)
(hint: COST-EFFECTIVE)

Answer 18

-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

Question 19

State a POSITIVE evaluation of flooding
(hint: Phobia of cars)

Answer 19

-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

Question 20

State a NEGATIVE evaluation of flooding
(HINT; highly traumatic)

Answer 20

-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

Question 21

State a NEGATIVE evaluation of flooding
(Hint: social phobias)

Answer 21

-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