P1 - Psychopathology - The behavioural approach to explaining and treating phobias Flashcards
what does the behavioral approach assume
The behavioural approach assumes that phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning. This is referred to as the two process model.
what are phobias explained by in behavioral approach and first suited to suggest this?
Phobias are explained by associating a uncoditioned stimulus with a fear response. This first attempt to explain this was by Watson and Rayer (1920) when they conditioned little albert to fear a white rat.
what is the general pattern to explain how phobias are developed
UCS———————-àUCR
choking anxiety
UCS + NS———àUCR
Choking + bannana anxiety
CS———————–àCR
Bannana anxiety
how are phobias maintained?
Operant conditioning involves learning through the consequences of behaviour. A behaviour that is rewarding reinforces the chances of it being repeated in future. An outcome of a behaviour that is pleasant is known as positive reinforcement, while an outcome of behaviour that results in escaping something unpleasant is known as negative reinforcement.
So are phobias maintained by positive or negative reinforcement? Explain by using an example
Maintaining a phobia is seen as avoiding the thing you are scarred of in order to feel better. An example would be phobia pf needles, by avoiding hospital you would not be exposed to needles and would not experience anxiety.
what is the study that contradicts conditioning?
Seligman preparedness theory – helps explain why we are more likely to have phobias to dangerous objects eg snakes as it would have benefitted our survival
A biological pre-disposition and can be used to contrast against classical conditioning and operant conditioning and instead phobias are In place to help us survive.
study to support preparedness theory?
Ohman (1975) presented Ps with various stimuli classified as fear relevant (snakes) or fear irrelevant (flowers). This was paired with a brief uncomfortable shock. Later they were measured anxiety levels when they were shown the images without the shock.
Fewer electric shocks were needed to condition the anxiety response to fear relevant items.
evaluation of behavioral approach to phobias (weakness)
Not all people develop a phobia after a fearful incident. DiNardo et al, (1988) – in a control group of participants without a phobia of dogs, a similar proportion of participants had experienced a fearful incident with dogs but not developed a phobia
evaluation of behavioral approach to phobias (stregnth)
However, a strength of the behaviourist viewpoint is that it can be combined with the biological one to give a better understanding of phobias. Genetic vulnerability shows how some individuals are more susceptible to developing phobias through environmental experiences. Practical application of this is targeting individuals for effective treatment.
What do you think the assumption of behaviorists is in regard to treating phobias?
If we can develop a phobia via classical conditioning we can also treat phobias via this method by associating the conditioned stimulus to relaxation instead of fear
explain treatment to phobias put forward by behavioral approach?
Systematic desensitisation was devised by Joseph Wolpe, and uses classical conditioning to treat phobias.
SD aims to substitute the fear response with an alternative response whenever the phobic stimulus is present.
It is based on the principle of reciprocal inhibition, which is that two incompatible responses (such as anxiety and relaxation) cannot be experienced at the same time.
Thus, the aim of SD is to replace fear (maladaptive) with feelings of being relaxed (adaptive).
what are the stages of systematic desensitization?
Relaxation is taught using muscle techniques such as breathing.
A hierarchy of anxiety provoking situations is produced from least to highest
Reciprocal inhibition = when relaxation and anxiety cannot exist together
Treatment is completed when the person is completely desensitized
In Vitro = through imagination
In Vivo = in real life
what is meant by in vitro and in vivo?
In Vitro = through imagination
In Vivo = in real life
evaluation of SD - strengths
Research shows that systematic desensitization is among the most effective treatments for phobias. 60-90% of people who undergo SD show measurable improvements (Barlow 2002)
In many cases once the fear has been extinguished it does not return – ie the patient is cured. How does this compare to drugs e.g. BDZs?
There are no negative physical side effects to SD unlike many biological treatments.
SD is aimed to be a quick and therefore cost effective treatment.
evaluations of SD - limitations
One of the weaknesses of SD is that its effectiveness depends on the client’s ability to use imagery/visualisation. With people who can’t do this, the therapy is much less effective.
Going straight to in vivo may cause more stress on the person and this needs to be taken into consideration, the therapist may need to consult the patient before going straight into the treatment.
Although SD is effective in treating phobias, it has been criticised for failing to address the possible deeper psychological or emotional causes related to that disorder.
In other words, the therapy concentrates on the symptoms, and once the symptoms have gone the phobia is ‘cured’.
Critics say that although the symptoms ‘go’, SD has failed to address the thing that caused the symptoms in the first place
Putting the clients under significant stress may be questionable in terms of ethical issues. This might increase drop out rates as people might feel like their treatment is too frightening to face. A therapist might try to overcome this by making slower progression and making sure that the patient is fully relaxed at each point.
explain an alternative treatment to phobias
FLOODING
Not gradually exposing someone to what they fear and instead going in at what would be the top of the hierachy.
Without the option of avoidance behaviour, the patient quickly learns that the phobic stimulus is harmless. In classical conditioning this is known as extinction, where a learnt response is extinguished when the conditioned stimulus (e.g a dog) is encountered without the unconditioned stimulus of being bitten. In some cases they may achieve relaxation simply because they are exhausted of their own fear response
