Phobias (Psychopathology)

Question 0

Behavioural Explanation

Two Process Model

Answer 0

Mowrer: Two professes of conditioning

1. Acquisition By Classical conditioning - Unconditioned stimulus produces a fear response, unconditioned stimulus is then associated with neutral stimulus to become a conditioned stimulus producing a conditioned response
2. Maintaining By Operant Conditioning - Avoidance of the phonic stimulus to reduce anxiety so the phobia is maintained

Question 1

Characteristics

Behavioural
Emotional
Cognitive

Answer 1

Behavioural - Panic, avoidance or endurance

Emotional - Irrational and unreasonable fear and anxiety

Cognitive - Selective attention, irrational beliefs and cognitive distortions

Question 2

Behavioural Explanation

Two Process Model Evaluation

Answer 2

Good explanation - Explains how phobias can be both acquired and maintained

Alternative explanation for avoidance - Avoidsnce may be motivated by seeking safety rather than anxiety reduction

Incomplete explanation - Doesn’t include the evolutionary factors that may be involved (biological adaptiveness) Bounton 2007

Question 3

Behavioural Treatment

Systematic Desensitisation

Answer 3

Anxiety hierarchy - A list of situations ranked from how much anxiety they produce

Relaxation - Valium drug can be used or the therapist will teach the patient sheet or breathing techniques

Exposure - Exposed to the phobic stimulus whilst relaxed starting at the bottom of the hierarchy and working their way up

Question 4

Behavioural Explanation

Systematic Desensitisation Evaultion

Answer 4

Effective - More effective than relaxation alone (Gilroy et al)

Diverse range of patients - Those with learning difficulties for example may struggle to understand what is going on

Acceptable to patients - Patients prefer systematic desensitisation

Some phobias don’t follow trauma - Not all cognitive aspects of phobias are explained

Question 5

Behavioural Treatment: Flooding

Answer 5

Exposing patients to a very frightening situation without build up

Works by the extinctions of the conditioned fear response

Patients must give informed consent to and be prepared for flooding

Question 6

Behavioural Treatment: Flooding

Evaluation

Answer 6

Cost-effective - Quicker and more effective than systematic desensitisation

Less effective for some - Less effective for more complex phobias, like social phobias

Traumatic treatment - Drop out rate is high, therefore ineffective