Phobias: Flooding

Question 1

Which learning theory is flooding based on?

Answer 1

Classical conditioning.

Question 2

How is this theory used to treat phobias?

Answer 2

Replacing the fear through associating the phobia with relaxation.

Question 3

Why does using relaxation to replace fear work?

Answer 3

Because they are two opposing emotions which cannot be felt at the same time - reciprocal inhibition.

Question 4

Which form of exposure does flooding use?

Answer 4

In vivo.

Question 5

Describe the procedure of flooding.

Answer 5

• There is no gradual exposure
• Patients are exposed to the stimulus at the top of the anxiety hierarchy first
• They experience extreme anxiety which eventually subsides through exhaustion
• They then use relaxation techniques, such as meditation, to pair that with the phobic stimulus

Question 6

Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate a ‘different treatment’ point.

Answer 6

P - Systematic desensitisation more effective
E - Willis and Edwards (1969) found SD was more effective on 50 females with phobias of mice
E - Flooding showed no more improvement than the control suggesting it is not as effective

Question 7

Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate an ‘expense’ point.

Answer 7

P - May be cheaper than systematic desensitisation
E - May only take one session or multiple closer together
E - Whereas systematic desensitisation can take up to 10 sessions and so cost of treatment would reduce

Question 8

Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate 2 ‘supporting studies’ points.

Answer 8

P - Wolitzky-Taylor et al (2008) supports
E - A metanalysis of 33 studies found that exposure based treatments were more effective compared to controls and psychodynamic therapies
E - Showing exposure based treatments were superior to alternative approaches in treating phobias
P - Wolpe (1970) supports
E - Took a girl who was scared of cars on a 4hr drive until she calmed down
E - She reported that although initially distressed, her phobia was removed and now enjoyed car rides

Question 9

Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate a ‘side effects’ point.

Answer 9

P - Side effects
E - Whilst there are no physical side effects it could cause trauma in the form of PTSD
E - This would make the phobia worse than it previously was

Question 10

Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate an ‘ethics’ point.

Answer 10

P - Unethical
E - It causes distress to a patient through forced exposure to the phobic stimulus
E - This would make it worse that it previously was due to cause psychological harm

Question 11

Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate a ‘mask’ point.

Answer 11

P - Masks symptoms
E - Markes et al found that it lasted over 12 months before resurfacing through spontaneous recovery
E - This shows that is may only mask the symptoms rather than treating the cause, also being less effective than systematic desensitisation as that treatment creates a stronger disconnection between the phobia through the gradual exposure

Question 12

Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate a ‘time commitment’ point.

Answer 12

P - High
E - Due to the potential for a smaller amount of sessions needed the patient will not have to commit for as long
E - Therefore minimising distractions that may affect the extinguishing of their phobia