Phobias Flashcards
Phobia definition
An irrational fear of an object or situation
What is the DSM-5 categories of phobias
- Specific phobias- phobia of an object
- Social anxiety (social phobias)- phobia of a social situation
- Agoraphobia- phobia of being outside
What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias (3)
Avoidance
Panic
Endurance
What are the emotional characteristics of phobias (3)
Fear
Emotional responce
Anxiety
What are the cognitive characteristics of phobias (3)
Irrational Beliefs
Cognitive Distortions
Selective Attention
What is the two process model as a behavioural explanation of phobias- Mowrer
An explanation for the onset and persistence of disorders that create anxiety, such as phobias. The two processes are classical and operant conditioning for persistence
What is the classical conditioning stage in the two process model of phobias
- ACQUIRED phobias through classical conditioning
- UCS (noise) = UCR (fear). UCS (noise) + NS (rat) = UCR (fear). CS (rat) = CR (fear)
- Watson and Rayner study giving Little Albert a phobia of rats through CC
What is the operant conditioning stage in the two process model of phobias
- MAINTAINED by operant conditioning
- Reinforced through rewards and/or punishments which increases likelihood of behaviour being repeated
- Negative reinforcement (avoiding a unpleasant situation)- desirable consequence = behaviour repeated
- Positive reinforcement
- Mowrer suggested that whenever we avoid a phobic stimulus we successfully escape the fear/anxiety.
- This reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour and so the phobia is maintained
Two process model evaluation points- Real world application
STRENGTH
Phobias successfully treated by preventing avoidance, as suggested by the model
Two process model evaluation points- Cognitive aspects of phobias
LIMITATION
Fails to account for cognitive aspects of phobias (e.g irrational fears)
Two process model evaluation points- Phobias and traumatic experience
STRENGTH
73% of people with a dental phobia had past trauma, in control group with no phobia only 21% had trauma (DeJongh)
Two process model evaluation points- Not all cases of phobias come from trauma
LIMITATION
Not all cases of phobias follow bad experiences and vice versa
What are the two ways of treating phobias
Systematic desensitisation
Flooding
Systematic desensitisation process
Anxiety hierarchy
Relaxation
Reciprocal inhibition
Exposure
Counterconditioning
Anxiety hierarchy
List put together by client and therapist. List of situations related to phobic stimulus that provoke anxiety arranged in order from least to most frightening.
Relaxation
Therapist teaches client to relax through various techniques such as deep breathing, positive mental imagery and rehearsal
Reciprocal inhibition
Where it’s impossible to be relaxed and afraid at the same time
Exposure
Where the client is exposed to phobic stimulus. This is gradual as it takes place over several sessions as the client works up the anxiety hierarchy conditions
Counterconditioning
Creating a new response of relaxation instead of anxiety or fear to the phobic stimulus
Systematic desensitisation evaluation points- Evidence of effectiveness
STRENGTH
More effective than relaxation alone after 33 moths and effective for a range of phobias
Systematic desensitisation evaluation points- People with learning difficulties
STRENGTH
Systematic desensitisation best- cognitive therapy requires rational thinking, flooding is traumatic
Flooding
A behavioural therapy in which a person with a phobia is exposed to an extreme form of a phobic stimulus in order to reduce anxiety triggered by that stimulus (extinction). This takes place across a small number of long therapy sessions
Flooding evaluation points-Cost effective
STRENGTH
Clinically effective and not expensive may take only 1-3 sessions
Flooding evaluation points-Traumatic
LIMITATION
Rated as more stressful than systematic desensitisation, lack of informed consent and higher attrition rates
Flooding evaluation points- Ethical issues- informed consent
LIMITATION
Occurs if cause of phobia is not tackled e.g women with death phobia but only evidence is from case studies, may not generalise
