Phobias

Question 1

What are 3 behavioural characteristics of phobias

Answer 1

Panic
Avoidance
Endurance

Question 2

What are 2 emotional characteristics of phobias

Answer 2

Anxiety
Unawareness that the anxiety is irrational

Question 3

What are 3 cognitive characteristics of phobias

Answer 3

Selective attention
Irrational beliefs
Cognitive distortions

Question 4

Describe the systematic desensitation behavioural therapy approach

Answer 4

• Gradual exposure to the phobic stimulus
• Relys on counterconditioning by learning relaxation techniques to produce a relaxed response to the phobic stimulus
• Patient and therapist draw a hierarchy chart of the most anxiety inducing situations
• Therapist teaches patient relaxation techniques
• Patient works their way through the hierarchy only progressing when they can remain calm at the highest level

Question 5

Evaluate systematic desensitation

Answer 5

+ Supporting evidence: Gilroy followed up 42 patients treated in three sessions, and gave them a questionaire on their spider phobia 3 months and 33 months after. The SD group showed a reduction in their symptoms compared to a control group who only learned relaxation techniques
T: Credible

+ Systematic desensitation is suitable for many patients, even those with learning difficulties: Anxiety conditions are often accompanied with learning difficulties
T: Real world applications

+ More acceptable to patients:
Low refusal and attrition rates
T: Useful

Question 6

Evaluate flooding

Answer 6

+ Cost effective: Typically only lasts one session, so is cheaper and less time consuming
T: Economically viable

• Less effective for complex phobias: Social phobias is harder to flood due to the nature of the phovia, bertter suited to cognitive therapy
  T: Limited method