psychopathology Flashcards
outline and evaluate the behavioural approach to explaining phobias ( 6+10 )
6 A01 marks - 1 paragraph
10 A03 marks - 4 paragraphs
- A01 for outline and evaluate the behavioural approach to explaining phobias ( 6+10 )
behaviour learnt from the environment, babies are born as a blank canvas
- outline and evaluate the behavioural approach to explaining phobias ( 6+10 )
In the developmental stage, phobias are learnt via classical conditioning ( needs a written explanation )
- Ao1 for outline and evaluate the behavioural approach to explaining phobias ( 6+10 )
In the maintenance stage, the phobia is maintained via negative reinforcement. If the negative consequence (fear) is avoided then the negative feeling is avoided, so over time the patient will feel as though if they come into contact with their fear again it will be much worse
A03 for outline and evaluate the behavioural approach to explaining phobias ( 6+10 )
Biological factors
P: can be criticised as It fails to consider biological factors.
E: For example Seligman: suggested phobias are due to biological preparedness
E: This suggests that there is an advantage to having certain phobias such as a fear of heights or snakes as they increase their survival rate and therefore ability to reproduce
L: criticises as shows the fact that not all behaviour is learnt criticising the theory’s idea that babies are born as a blank canvas highlighting that the theory is not complete as it fails to consider the role of evolution on phobias.
A03 for outline and evaluate the behavioural approach to explaining phobias ( 6+10 )
Little Albert
P: The idea of classical conditioning creating phobias is supported by the case study of little Albert
E: Watson and Reyner subjected 9 m/o Albert to a series of stimuli including a fluffy white rat Used Classical conditioning to associate a rat with a fear response of a loud bang. they repeated this until after a while Albert cried at the rat even without the loud bang
E: this shows that Little albert developed a phobia of the rat despite it not affecting him before
L: highlighting that it is possible to learn phobias supporting the role of classical conditioning in learning phobias
A03 for outline and evaluate the behavioural approach to explaining phobias ( 6+10 )
Systematic desensitisation
P: Classical conditioning is supported by systematic desensitisation
E: it is a 75% accurate technique based on the principals of classical conditioning where the client creates a hierarchy of needs where they list their most fearful to least fearful situation, they then work through relaxation techniques with their therapist
E: In each stage they associated the phobia with calmness, so the patient was no longer fearful as fear and anxiety cannot be felt at the same time.
L: This effective technique of phobias supports the behavioural approach to phobias due to its use of classical conditionning
A03 for outline and evaluate the behavioural approach to explaining phobias ( 6+10 )
Lack of stimuli
P: The behavioural explanation fails to consider that not all phobias are a result of a stimuli
E: Some people who have a phobia have never come into contact with the neutral stimulus of that phobia
L: This criticises the Theory’s suggestion that we need a stimulus to develop a fear
Outline and evaluate behavioural treatments for phobias
(6+10)
1*A01 paragraph
2*A03 paragraphs
1*A01 paragraph
2*A03 paragraphs
A01: Outline and evaluate behavioural treatments for phobias
(6+10)
SD
- clients create a hierarchy of fears where they rank their most fearful situation to their least fearful situation.
- eg 1) seeing a picture of fear 2) seeing a video of the fear 3) being in the same room as the fear etc
- once the list is written the therapist and client work through relaxation techniques such as counting to 10, or taking deep breaths
- once the client masters these, they work through the situations on the hierarchy of fears, and if the anxiety gets too much they go back to the previous fear
- overall the client associates the fear to calmness as fear and relaxation cannot be felat at the same time
Outline and evaluate behavioural treatments for phobias
(6+10)
A03 for SD
P: Systematic desensitisation is said to be highly effective.
E: 75% of patients who use SD are successfully treated, so the majority of patients find the treatment effective
L: This supports the use of classical conditioning as a treatment for phobias
P: however SD is not easily accessible for everybody
E: Sd requires lots of commitment from the patient including weekly sessions and homework over a minimum of three months.
L: This makes the therapy not appropriate for those who have to travel, or those who are not willing to give up that much time
A01: Outline and evaluate behavioural treatments for phobias
(6+10)
Flooding
- Client is exposed to the worst of the fear all at once.
- The client is told to practice relaxation techniques, and the client stays with that phobia until the yare fully relaxed, this can take hours
- Can be conducted ion vivo or in vr
- The idea is that eventually the adrenaline response will calm down and the patient will realise that they are not in danger and will no longer be fearful of the stimulus.
- Used as last resort
A01: Outline and evaluate behavioural treatments for phobias
(6+10)
Flooding Ao3
Is more easily accesible than SD. Flooding is a one time session of only a few hours, and everyone can spare just a few hours for one time. However as it increases anxiety levels significantly patients could have an adverse reaction to the therapy. This makes the therapy not effective for everybody as it is not recommended for patients with health issues
A01: Outline and evaluate behavioural treatments for phobias
(6+10)
both
Neither of these therapies are 100% effective as they do not take into account evolutionary based phobias. For example a fear of heights would not be fully treated by this therapy, and anti- anxiety medication would need to be prescribed to reduce symptoms. This suggests that neither therapy targets all aspects of phobias making them not appropriate for all
Outline and evaluate the biological explanation of OCD
(10+6)
A01: 1 paragraph
A03: 4 paragraphs
