Lesson 7 The BehaviourL Approach To Treating Phobias

Question 1

What is systematic desensitisation? AO1

Answer 1

SD is a behavioural therapy developed by Wolpe (1958) to diminish phobias by using classical conditioning. (Gradual exposure to the phobic stimulus)

Question 2

What is the central idea of SD

Answer 2

The central idea of SD is reciprocal inhibition:
impossible to experience two opposite emotions at the same time (anxious and relaxed)
Therefore counter conditioning can be used (learning a new response to the phobic stimulus i.e. one of relaxation rather than panic)

Question 3

What are the three processes involved in SD?

Answer 3

1) the hierarchy of fear
2) relaxation techniques
3) gradual exposure

Question 4

Describe the first step of SD

Answer 4

The patient and therapist draws upon anxiety hierarchy together, made up of situations involving the phobic stimulus

Question 5

Describe the second step of SD (relaxation techniques)

Answer 5

Patients are taught deep muscle relaxation techniques ( deep breathing, progressive muscular relaxation and the relaxation response)

Question 6

Describe the process of gradual exposure

Answer 6

They are exposed to the first (least feared) item on their hierarchy and then work their way up the fear hierarchy.
Patients are instructed to use the relaxation techniques while exposed to scenarios of rising intensity

Question 7

why did jones (1924) support the use of systematic desensitisation

Answer 7

• to eradicate ‘little peter’s phobia
• white rabbit was put gradually at closer distances
• each time is anxiety lessoned
• developed affection for all white and fluffy
• shows how sd can work to eliminate phobias

Question 8

why did klosko et al. (1990) support the use of systematic desensitisation

Answer 8

• assessed various therapies
• 87% panic free after SD
• 50% medication
• 36% after receiving a placebo
• 33% no treatment at all
• sd is most effective

Question 9

advantage of sd ( less traumatic)

Answer 9

• less traumatic compared to other behavioural therapies (flooding)
• less ethical implications (less psychological harm)
• less upsetting for the patient to endure

Question 10

disadvantage of sd (not appropriate for all phobia)

Answer 10

• not practical to confront real life phobic situations
• step-by-step situations are difficult to arrange and control for example when someone has a fear of sharks
• difficult to real life phobias therefore questioning the effectiveness of this therapy
• martin seligman (1970) argued that humans and animals are genetically programmed to rapidly learn association between potentially life threatening stimuli

Question 11

disadvantage of sd (symptom subsitution)

Answer 11

• symptoms are merely the tip of the iceberg
• claim that underlying causes of the phobia will remain
• in the future the symptoms will return or symptom substitution

Question 12

what does symptom substitution mean?

Answer 12

when other abnormal behaviours replaced the ones that have been removed

Question 13

advantage of sd (economical implications)

Answer 13

• it increases the likelihood that the patient will agree to start and continue with the therapy, as opposed to wasting time and effort of the therapist

Question 14

what is flooding ?

Answer 14

flooding is a behavioural therapy designed to reduce phobic anxiety in one session, through immediate exposure to the phobic stimulus

Question 15

what must the patient be taught before the flooding procedure begins?

Answer 15

• must be taught relaxation techniques beforehand

Question 16

why must flooding occur in a secured environment?

Answer 16

it must occur in a secure environment from which the patient cannot escape- without the option of practising avoidance behvaiour, such behaviour is not reinforced so the phobia is not maintained

Question 17

what principal does flooding rely on?

Answer 17

• it is physically impossible to maintain a state of heightened anxiety for a prolonged period
• eventually the patient will learn that the phobic stimulus is harmless, therefore extinction occurs

Question 18

why is flooding ethical?

Answer 18

• although causes psychological harm
• patient gives full consent so that they are fully prepared for session
• patients are given a choice between sd and flooding

Question 19

advantage (cost effective)

Answer 19

• the patients’ phobia will typically be cured in a session, thus freeing them of their symptoms and allowing them to continue a normal life

Question 20

disadvantage (less effective for complex phobias)

Answer 20

• less effective of curing certain phobias such as social phobia
• this is because social phobias have more cognitive aspects that flooding cannot address very well e.g addressing negative thoughts about speaking in public
• social phobias can be cured more successfully by using cognitive therapies

Question 21

disadvantage (highly traumatic experience)

Answer 21

• initally cause a great deal of pyschlogical harm
• this can cause a highly traumatic experience and many patients are unwilling to continue with the therapy until the end
• time and money might be wasted preparing patients for the flooding experience
• unsuitable for children

Question 22

how does systematic desensitisation use classical conditioning?

Answer 22

SD uses classical conditioning to replace irrational fears and anxiety about a phobic object with calm and relaxed responses instead

Question 23

what is a limitation of both systematic desensitisation and flooding?

Answer 23

a limitation of both systematic desensitisation and flooding is that when one phobia disappears, another may appear.