Psychopathology- Phobias Flashcards
What is a behavioural characteristic?
the impact of a disorder upon how the person behaves/acts
What is an emotional characteristic?
how a disorder impacts upon the way a person feels
What is a cognitive characteristic?
the impact upon the way an individual thinks
Definition of a phobia?
A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder where the sufferer experiences an extreme irrational fear of an object or situation that is disproportionate to the situation.
Behavioural symptoms:
Avoidant/anxiety response
Disruption of functioning- anxiety and avoidance responses are so extreme that they severely interfere with the ability to carry out normal work and social activities.
Emotional symptoms:
Immediate Fear from exposure to phobic stimulus
Persistent Anxiety
Cognitive symptoms:
Recognition of exaggerated anxiety- generally phobics are consciously aware that they anxiety levels they experience are overstated and irrational.
Describe the behavioural approach of acquiring phobias:
assumes that phobias are acquired through classical condition and maintained through operant conditioning: behavioural model
what is the general pattern to explain the classical condition of phobias?
UCS——UCR (before conditioning)
UCS+NS———-UCR (during conditioning)
CS————-CR (after conditioning)
Are phobias maintained by positive or negative reinforcement?
Negative reinforcement
What is the watson and raynor (1920) experiment?
classical condition in the formation of phobias in Little Albert who was conditioned to have a fear of white rats
What did the DiGallo (1996) experiment find?
study found that 20% of people experiencing traumatic car accidents developed a phobia of travelling through association and classical conditioning
what is the cooke and mineka (1989) experiment?
lab-based research using lab-reared rhesus monkeys. shown clip of a real monkey with fear response to: snake flowers crocodile and rabbit
cognitive explanation: what is diathesis stress?
the theory that mental and physical disorders develop from a genetic or biological predisposition for that illness (diathesis) combined with stressful conditions that play a precipitating or facilitating role
2 behavioural approaches to treating phobias
- systematic desensitisation
2. flooding
what is systematic desensitisation?
a behavioural therapy designed to gradually reduce phobic anxiety through the principle of classical conditioning. aims to substitute the fear response with an alternative response whenever the phobic stimulus is present
what does SD involve the construction of?
an anxiety hierarchy going from least to most feared types of contact with the phobia object/situation
what is reciprocal inhibition?
it’s impossible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time so one emotion prevents the other
at each stage patients are taught what?
relaxation strategies- including visualisation, taught how to control their breathing and progressive muscle relation techniques
when is treatment successful in SD?
when the patient can stay relaxed in situations high on the anxiety hierarchy
what does Barlow (2002) experiment show?
SD is among the most effective treatments for phobias, 60-90% of patients who undergo show measurable improvements
why has SD been criticised?
failing to address the possible deeper psychological or emotional causes related to that disorder. the therapy concentrated on the symptoms
Why is SD limited in treating all phobias?
ineffective in treating evolutionary phobias
side effects of SD:
no negative side effects to SD:
Gives you tools to deal with a phobia long-term.
Drugs may only be effective whilst being taken and therefore may lead to side effects.
SD more effective ad more likely to complete treatment
why is SD preferred over flooding?
Has long-term effects, research suggests 33 months. More effective as more likely to complete treatment. Empowering because patient is in control.
it is suitable for a diverse range of patients
what is flooding?
involves exposing phobic patients to their phobic stimulus but without a gradual build-up in an anxiety hierarchy. it involves immediate exposure to a frightening situation
how does flooding work?
the patient quickly learns that the phobic stimulus is harmless. In classical conditioning this is known as extinction, where a learnt response is extinguished when the conditioned stimulus (e.g a dog) is encountered without the unconditioned stimulus of being bitten
how is calmness achieved during flooding?
exhaustion kicks in- the anxiety response is exhausted because you cannot physiologically maintain the fear response
is flooding ethical?
its not exactly unethical but its an unpleasant experience which is why informed consent must be given to take part in the traumatic procedure
how is flooding time and cost effective?
most of the time only one or two sessions of a few hours is needed. studies have found that flooding is highly effective and quicker than other alternatives. the quick effect means patients are free of their symptoms as soon as possible so makes it cheaper
how is flooding less effective for some types of phobias?
complex phobias like social phobias are less effective because social phobias have cognitive aspects- may benefit more from cognitive therapies because it will tackle the irrational thinking
how can flooding make the phobia worse in some cases?
if the patient does not finish the therapy then the experience has just been incredibly traumatic and they will probably leave still with the phobia.
is flooding appropriate for all patients?
People with health conditions like a heart condition may suffer a cardiac arrest due to the anxiety levels being risen and also the extreme amounts of stress the patient is put under so no its not suitable.
