Phobias

Question 1

Behavioural characteristics of phobias

Answer 1

• avoidance - making conscious effort to avoid contact w the phobic stim
• panic- crying, screaming or running away from the phobic stimulus.

Question 2

cognitive characteristics of phobias

Answer 2

• persistent irrational beliefs about the phobic stimulus EG: a spider will harm you
• selective attention - keeping attention on the phobic stimulus and finding it difficult to look away incase of danger

Question 3

emotional characteristics of phobias

Answer 3

• anxiety- exposure to the phobic stimulus causes worry or distress.
• fear- exposure to the phobic stimulus causes terror (feelings of fear

Question 4

introduction to explaining the behavioural approach to phobias

Answer 4

• suggests phobias are a learned behaviour
• mowrer argues phobias are initially learned through classical conditioning then maintained through operant conditioning this is the two process model

Question 5

classical conditioning in explaining phobias

Answer 5

• ASSOCIATE something which we initially have no fear of (NS) with something that already triggers as fear response (UNCS).
• this fear response is triggered every time they see or think about the feared object

Question 6

Describe operant conditioning linked to phobias

Answer 6

• phobias maintained through operant
• continue to avoid feared stim Neg reinforced by reducing anxiety felt
• why phobias long lasting (avoidance)

Question 7

AO3 for beh approach phobias

Answer 7

env reductionism

• red comp human beh -> simple basic units of learning via stim, resp,assoc between a NS + UNCS + maintaining through reinforcement
• Neglect holistic approach take account cult, soc context would influence phobia
• EG: taijin kyofusno fear displeasing ppl relative to japan culture (collectivist) less likely occur in individualistic
• Lack Int Val

Prac apps

• learnt via CC can be unlearnt by CC
• treatments made (SD), [describe SD]
• once avoidance prevented = no phobia
• Help real world imp part applied psych

RTS Ad De Jongh

• 73% fear dental treatment had traumatic experience
• compared to control group low anxiety 21% experienced
• confirms assoc betw stim with UNCS to develop phobia
• Therefore supports behaviourist appr

Question 8

Describe Systematic desensitisation

Answer 8

• relaxation: muscle relaxation,breathing technique
• Hierarchy: graded scale (least -> most)
  picture -> touching actual phobia
• Gradual exposure: exposed to least feared told to use relaxation techn (reciprocal inhibition) - two incompatible states of mind cant co-exist at the same time, moved on when relaxed
• complete treatment: able to move through hierarchy without anxiety

Question 9

AO3 for SD

Answer 9

Req motivation + commitment

• attend sesh periods of time + exposed to anxiety provoking situations
• if patients stop therapy therapy ineffective
• unlike drugs require small motiv+commit only need a tablet
• Limiting appropriateness of SD

more appropriate than flooding

• bc create their own hierarchy + grad exp to feared stim
• unlike flooding more traumatic as immediate exposure to feared stim
• patients opt for SD low refusal rates, more approp

Question 10

Describe Flooding

Answer 10

• immediately exposed to most feared stim must stay in presence
• high anxiety as cant avoid stim, remain exposed till exhausted/ feel calm
• lasts 2-3 hrs
• (extinction) learn phobic stim harmless

Question 11

AO3 for flooding (cost)

Answer 11

Highly cost-effective

• effective not expensive, work in 1 sesh due to immediate exposure and extinction of phobia unlike SD 10 sesh same result
• Therefore more cost effective for NHS, benefit economy more ppl treated less time
• More appropriate to use IRL

Question 12

AO3 for flooding

Answer 12

Highly cost-effective

• effective not expensive, work in 1 sesh due to immediate exposure and extinction of phobia unlike SD 10 sesh same result
• Therefore more cost effective for NHS, benefit economy more ppl treated less time
• More appropriate to use IRL