Phobias

Question 1

Acquisition of phobias: CLASSICAL CONDITIONING: Acquisition, AO3, Maintenance

Answer 1

Acquisition: associate object w. fear so phobia
AO3: Watson & Rayner (1928), Dollinger et al (1984), Dinardo (1988)
Maintenance: N/A

Question 2

Acquisition of phobias: OPERANT CONDITIONING: Acquisition, AO3, Maintenance

Answer 2

Acquisition: reward, punishment conditions form phobia
AO3: Mowrer
Maintenance: avoidance if fearful situation reinforces behaviour negatively

Question 3

Acquisition of phobias: SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY: Acquisition, AO3, Maintenance

Answer 3

Acquisition: observing role model and consequences of others behaviour
AO3: Mineka & Cook (1989), Mineka & Zinborga (2006)
Maintenance: N/A

Question 4

Treatment of Phobias: EXPOSURE THERAPY: AO1 (5)

Answer 4

In vivo
Treats simple phobias
Classical conditioning
Biological response fight or flight
Associate object w. lack of emotion not fear after fight or flight response wears off

Question 5

Treatment of Phobias: EXPOSURE THERAPY: AO3 (4)

Answer 5

Joseph Wolpe (1970): cars, 4 hrs, disappeared
Joseph Wolpe (1969): hospitalised client, anxiety
Strengths: effective, quick, unlikely to come back
Weaknesses: unethical, distressing, not root cause

Question 6

Treatment of Phobias: IMPLOSION THERAPY: AO1 (3)

Answer 6

In vitro
Complex phobias
Flooding

Question 7

Treatment of Phobias: IMPLOSION THERAPY: AO3 (4)

Answer 7

Stampfl: 6-9 hrs, multiple patients, disappeared
Keane et al (1989): 24 Vietnam veterans, PTSD, 14-16 sessions, tested before, after, 6 mths after
Strengths: effective, ethical, less distressing
Weaknesses: spontaneous recovery, takes time, can go wrong, not root cause

Question 8

Treatment of Phobias: SYSTEMATIC DESENSITISATION : AO1 (5)

Answer 8

Counter conditioning
Incompatible responses
Complex phobias
In vivo, in vitro
4 stages: relaxation training, functional analysis, fear hierarchy, gradual exposure

Question 9

Treatment of Phobias: SYSTEMATIC DESENSITISATION : AO3

Answer 9

Gilroy et al (2003): 42 patients, spiders, 3 45 min sessions, questionnaire, observation, decreased
Rothbaum et al (1995): virtual reality headset, anxiety increase, frame freezes, replace fear w. relax
Strengths: ethical, effective
Weaknesses: not root cause, time