psychopathology- behaviourist approach to explaining + treating depression

Question 1

what is the model for the exp of phobias

Answer 1

the two process model

Question 2

what are the 2 processes in the two process model

Answer 2

classical conditioning: initiation
operant conditioning: maintenance

Question 3

what is classical conditioning- initiation

Question 4

what is operant conditioning: maintenance

Question 18

what are the 2 therapies, based off CC that are used to treat phobias

Answer 18

systematic desensitsation and flooding

Question 19

what are the key words for systematic desensitisation

Answer 19

counterconditioning
relaxation
desensitisation hierarchy

Question 20

what is counterconditioning

Answer 20

when you learn a new response to the feared stimuli through CC, associating the phobic stimulus with relaxation instead of fear, become desensitised as anxiety is reduced

aka reciprocal inhibition because the response of relaxation inhibits the response of anxiety/fear

Question 21

what are the 5 steps of SD

Answer 21

patients learns relaxation techniques eg deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation (when anxious br is high and muscs are tense

patient and therapist construct Dhierarchy

patients gradually works through DH whilst relaxing, starts at lowest

once mastered 1 step in DH move on to a higher

eventually masters the feared situation, counter conditioning is achieved

Question 22

what is desensitisation hierarchy

Answer 22

a series of imagined scenes each one causing a little more anxiety than the previous one

so patient is gradually introduced to the feared situation so not as overwhelming, at each stage relaxation is practiced so anx decreases

engaging can be invitro (imagining) or invivo (real life practice)

Question 23

limitation of SD: it isnt appropriate for all phobias, ohman suggested that sd might not be as effective in…

Answer 23

ohman suggested that sd may not be as effective in treating phobias that have an underlying evolutionary survival component eg fear of the dark, heights, animals, than in treating phobias withhave been acquired as a result of personal experience

therefore suggests that sd can only be used effectively in tackling some phobias

Question 24

strength of sd: research support for effectiveness, mcgrath reported about ..% of patients with phobias ....

Answer 24

75% respond to sd. particular success when there is actual contact with stimulus, invivo, so more successful than invitro, just imagining it. also often a range of techniques were used inc invivo, vitro, modelling (p watches someone else cope well with feared stimulus) this demonstrates the effectiveness of sd but also the value of using a range of different exposure techniques

Question 25

what is flooding

Answer 25

instead of gradually introducing phobic object the patient is immersed in one long session experiencing their phobia at its worst, the session continues until the anxiety has dissapeared eg fear of clowns, go in a room full of clowns and stay there until they no longer feel scared and are relaxed can be invivo- actual exposure or invitro and virtual reality can be used

Question 26

what is the rationale behind flooding

Answer 26

a persons fear response is characterised by increased adrenaline, this has a time limit so will naturally decrease, when adrenaline levels are low but feared stimuli is still present the patient can learn a new stimulus response link and the feared stimuli can be associated with a nonanxious response

Question 27

strength of flooding: research support for effectiveness, choy reported both sd and flooding were effective but inc cp

Answer 27

flooding was the most effective at treating phobias. on the other hand a review concluded that sd and flooding were equally effective in the treatment of phobias shows flooding is effective but just one of several options

Question 28

limitation of flooding: individual differences, it isnt for evert patient and therapist

Answer 28

it is highly traumatic, patients are made aware beforehand but even then they may quit during which reduces the effectiveness for some people. therefore individual differences limit the effectiveness

Question 29

what is an overall strength of behavioural therapies

Answer 29

they are quicker, cheaper and require less effort than other psychotherapies eg cbt requires willingness from the patient, deep thinking about their mental problems but not needed for behavioural. therefore also good for people who lack insight into their emotions eg children or people with learning difficulties can also be self administered, success found for social phobia, can be as effective as therapist guided therapy