Psychopathology - Phobias

Question 1

Phobia

Answer 1

Excessive fear and anxiety triggered by an object, place or situation

Question 2

Types of phobias

Answer 2

Specific phobia- phobia of an object or situation
Social phobia- phobia of a social situation
Agoraphobia- phobia of being outside

Question 3

Behavioural characteristics of phobias

Answer 3

1. Panic
2. Avoidance

Question 4

Emotional characteristics of phobias

Answer 4

1. Anxiety
2. Fear

Question 5

Cognitive characteristics of phobias

Answer 5

1. Selective attention
2. Irrational beliefs
3. Cognitive distortions

Question 6

Behaviourist approach uses what to explain phobias

Answer 6

2 process model using classical and operant conditioning

Question 7

Step 1: acquisition of phobia via classical conditioning

Answer 7

Phobias learnt through association. People have negative experiences with phobic stimulus, learning to associate it with feeling of anxiety
Use case of little Albert with key terms

Question 8

Step 2: maintenance of phobias via operant conditioning

Answer 8

Learning through reinforcement/punishment is thought to maintain a phobia
When a person successfully avoids phobia they don’t experience anxiety. This negatively reinforces phobia as they have completed a behaviour to avoid anxiety so it strengthens phobia

Question 9

Strengths of behaviourist approach to explaining phobias
Studies

Answer 9

P: scientific studies using humans
E: little Albert in lab setting so high control
C: establish C+E relationship. Could generalise findings as it was a human

Question 10

Strengths of behaviourist approach to explaining phobias
Developed treatments

Answer 10

P: led to development of treatments
E: SD and flooding.
C: high quality of life eg. Agoraphobia lowers quality of life as you can’t go out but a phobia of snakes wouldn’t really be affected as you don’t encounter snakes everyday

Question 11

Limitations of behaviourist approach to explaining phobias

Answer 11

P: reductionist
E: reduces behaviour down to OC or CC. fails to consider eg. Evolution or genetics
C: limits understand of phobias

Question 12

Limitations of behaviourist approach to explaining phobias
Supportive studies

Answer 12

P: use of supportive studies eg, little Albert
E: little Albert is 1 individual so it’s a case study. He was only 9 months old
C: can’t generalise findings

Question 13

Systematic desensitisation

Answer 13

Gradual form of treatment.
Uses principles of CC.
Uses counter conditioning

Question 14

SD steps 1-3

Answer 14

1. Anxiety hierarchy. Least anxiety causing at bottom and most at top.
2. Relaxation techniques
3. Gradual exposure. Client exposed to phobic stimulus. Takes places across several sessions

Question 15

Flooding

Answer 15

Immediate exposure to phobic stimulus
Step 1. Extinction. Made to face fear. Client soon realises that phobic stimulus is harmless
Works off energy - can only cry for so long

Question 16

Strengths of treatments
- effective

Answer 16

P: both are effective, especially SD
E: individuals treated for spider phobia with SD were less fearful than those who just completed relaxation therapy
C: this treatment has long lasting effects in terms of treating phobias so better quality of life

Question 17

Strengths of treatment
- cost effective

Answer 17

P: flooding is cost effective
E: flossing cheaper than SD as less sessions so therapy quicker to complete and less sessions to pay for
C: benefits economy as health services have a little budget

Question 18

Limitations of treatment
- not suitable for everyone

Answer 18

P: not all treatments are suitable for everyone eg flooding
E: young people wouldn’t understand principles behind it they would just get upset due to high anxiety
C: excludes some groups within society and is not a treatment that suits the needs of all

Question 19

Limitations of treatment
- less ethical

Answer 19

P: one treatment is less ethical than the other
E: flooding deemed less ethical due to high amounts of anxiety caused during treatment
C: higher attrition rates in comparison to SD. Also, some patients could refuse to take part so could have lower quality of life