Outline and evaluate the behavioural approach to treating phobias

Question 1

A01- Systematic Desensitisation

Answer 1

• There are two behavioural therapies used to treat phobias: systematic Desensitisation and flooding
• Systematic desensitisation uses counter conditioning to help patients ‘unlearn’ their phobias (relaxation instead of fear)
• Patients works with therapist to create a fear hierarchy
• Patient also taught relation strategies (breathing)
• Patient work through exposure

Question 2

A01- Systematic desensitisation (2)

Answer 2

It works on the assumption that two emotional states cant exist at the same time- theory known as the reciprocal inhibition, relation will replace fear

Question 3

Strength of systematic desensitisation (1)

Answer 3

• Comes from research it demonstrates effectiveness
• McGrath found 75% of patients were treated successfully
• techniques used by patients, in contact with feared stimulus- instead of imagining
• this shows its effective when using techniques

Question 4

Weakness of systematic desensitisation (2)

Answer 4

• Not always effective in treating phobias
• patients with phobias which which have not developed through personal experience (classical conditioning) eg fear of snakes- not effective
• ineffective in treating evolutionary- based phobias

Question 5

Flooding

Answer 5

• A behavioural therapy- not gradual, faced with a fear straight away
• A person is unable to avoid their phobias through continuous exposure- anxiety levels decrease
• Extinction will soon happen because anxiety is time limited

Question 6

Weakness of flooding (1)

Answer 6

• highly traumatic for patients- high levels of anxiety
• Wolpe found a patient became so anxious- required hospitalisation
• Flooding is not ethical- patients don’t always complete their treatment (too stressful)
• Flooding is seen as a waste of time and money- not engage with the treatment