LS7 - Systematic Desensitisation & Flooding

Question 1

What Is Systematic Desensitisation?

Answer 1

A behavioural therapy by Wolpe (1958) to reduce/diminish phobias by using classical conditioning, it replaces the irrational fears with calm and relaxed responses instead. It is impossible to have 2 opposite emotions at the same time which is what let SD work.

Question 2

Reciprocal Inhibition

Answer 2

The idea that it’s impossible to experience 2 opposite emotions at the same time.

Question 3

Counter Conditioning

Answer 3

When the patient can learn to remain relaxed in the presence of their phobia.

Question 4

Process In SD

Answer 4

• The Hierarchy Of Fear.
• Relaxation Techniques.
• Gradual Exposure.

Question 5

The Hierarchy Of Fear

Answer 5

When situations involved the phobia are ranked from least to most fearful. E.g. saying the word ‘snake’ might be the least fearful and holding it will be the most. The therapist will slowly go through the hierarchy of fear with their patient.

Question 6

Relaxation Techniques

Answer 6

Patents are taught deep muscle relaxation techniques, it tenses up a group of muscles as tightly as possible, holding them in a state of extreme tension and then relax the muscles to their previous state. The muscles will then be consciously relaxed, patients are asked to sit quietly with their eyes closed, the muscles in the feet are relaxed first and then they work up, whilst the patient is breathing deeply.

Question 7

Deep Muscle Relaxation Technique Examples

Answer 7

Deep breaking, Progressive muscular relaxation (PMR) and The relaxation response

Question 8

Gradual Exposure

Answer 8

The patient works up the fear of hierarchy, whilst using their relaxation technique when being exposed. Once comfortable with 1 stage, they move to the next, patients are instructed to use the relaxation techniques while exposed to scenarios of rising intensity. Through repeated exposure, only relaxation will be associated with the phobia, and the fear factor will go, eliminating the phobia.

Question 9

SD Strengths

Answer 9

Jones (1924) supports the use of SD.
Klosko Et Al (1990) supports the use of SD.
SD is less traumatic for patients.

Question 10

SD Weaknesses

Answer 10

Isn’t always practical irl.

It addresses the symptoms of the phobia.

Question 11

Jones (1924) Supports The Use Of SD (+)

Answer 11

Jones (1924) supports the use of SD to eradicate Little Peter’s phobia. A white rabbit presented to Little Peter at gradually closer distances and each time his anxiety levels lessoned. Eventually he developed a love for the white rabbit and all white fluffy objects.

Question 12

Klosko Et Al (1990) Supports The Use Of SD (+)

Answer 12

He assessed various therapies for the treatment of panic disorders and found that 87% of patients were panic free after SD, compared to 50% after meditation, 36% after receiving a placebo and 33% after receiving no treatment at all, making it highly effective compared to others.

Question 13

SD Is Less Traumatic For Patients (+)

Answer 13

Especially compared to flooding, where the patient has to confront their phobias directly. It therefore has less ethical implications than other behavioural therapies, ultimately it’s less upsetting for the patient to endure.

Question 14

Isn’t Always Practical Irl (-)

Answer 14

Real life step-by-step situations are difficult to arrange and control, e.g. if someone is scared of sharks, making SD very difficult to apply to real life phobias, questioning the effectiveness of the therapy.

Question 15

It Addresses The Symptoms Of The Phobia (-)

Answer 15

Critics believe the symptoms are merely the top of the iceberg and claim that underlying causes of the phobia will remain, and in the future the symptoms will return or symptom substitution will occur.

Question 16

Symptom Substitution

Answer 16

When other abnormal behaviours replace the ones that have been removed

Question 17

What Is Flooding?

Answer 17

Directly exposing the phobic patient to their feared object in an immediate situation. Beforehand, the patient would be taught relaxation techniques, and then be given immediate exposure to a very frightening and extreme situation. It can be done virtually or irl.

Question 18

What Does Flooding Do?

Answer 18

Flooding stops phobic responses very quickly, because the patent can’t avoid it, they might quickly learn the object is harmless and therefore extinction occurs. After being exhausted by their response the patient might also find relaxation with their phobic object. Flooding is ethical despite the ethical harm it can cause because the patient gives fully informed consent. Flooding usually lasts 2-3 hours which is much longer than SD sessions.

Question 19

Strengths Of Flooding

Answer 19

Cost Effective.

Ost (1997) Supports It.

Question 20

Weaknesses Of Flooding

Answer 20

Less Effecting On Some Types Of Phobia.

Flooding is Highly Traumatic

Question 21

Cost Effective (+)

Answer 21

Especially when compared to cognitive behavioural therapies which take months or years to work and rid the person of their phobia. It’s a quick therapy for phobias which is useful as it means and patients are free of their symptoms as soon as and this makes the treatment cost effective and cheaper.

Question 22

Ost (1997) Supports It (+)

Answer 22

Flooding is effecting and rapid and delivers immediate improvements for phobic patients, the results from flooding can also be applied to everyday life outside the therapy situation.

Question 23

Less Effecting On Some Types Of Phobia (-)

Answer 23

It can’t cure some types of phobia such as social phobia, as It has more cognitive aspect that flooding can’t address very well, cognitive therapies are more suited for them.

Question 24

Flooding Is Highly Traumatic (-)

Answer 24

It’s highly traumatic and many patients might be unwilling to continue with the therapy until the end meaning time and money are wasted, and their phobia remains uncured, in this scenario other alternatives like SD would act as better therapies.