Psychopathology - The Behavioural Approach To Explaining & Treating Phobias

Question 1

What is the behavioural approach?

Answer 1

A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable & in terms of learning

Question 2

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 2

Learning by association -> occurs when the unconditioned stimulus & neutral stimulus are repeatedly paired together until together until the neutral stimulus eventually produces the same response as the unconditioned stimulus alone (the conditioned response)

Question 3

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 3

A form of learning of which behaviour is shaped & maintained by its consequences -> either positive/negative reinforcement or punishment

Question 4

What is a specific phobia?

Answer 4

Fear of an object/situation

Question 5

What is an example of a specific phobia?

Answer 5

Arachnophobia

Question 6

What is a social phobia?

Answer 6

Fear of a social situation

Question 7

What is an example of a social phobia?

Answer 7

Fear of public speaking

Question 8

What is agoraphobia?

Answer 8

Fear of being outside/in a public place

Question 9

What is an example of agoraphobia?

Answer 9

Enochlophobia

Question 10

What model explains how phobias are acquired & maintained?

Answer 10

The two-process model

Question 11

Who proposed the two-process model?

Answer 11

Mowrer

Question 12

How is a phobia acquired as proposed by the two-process model?

Answer 12

Classical conditioning -> the UCS is linked with the NS so that the NS becomes the CS & the response to the NS produces the same response as the UCS alone (CR)

Question 13

How is a phobia maintained as proposed by the two-process model?

Answer 13

Avoiding the phobic stimulus acts as negative reinforcement as anxiety is reduced -> the reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour so the phobia is maintained

Question 14

What is an example of someone who acquired a phobia through classical conditioning?

Answer 14

Little Albert

Question 15

What is a strength of the two-process model to explain the acquisition & maintenance of phobias?

Answer 15

Real world application -> phobias are successfully treated by preventing avoidance behaviour (suggested by the model)

Question 16

What are some limitations of the two-process model to explain the acquisition & maintenance of phobias?

Answer 16

Ignores the cognitive aspects of phobias -> irrational beliefs

Limited explanation -> explains individual phobias but not genetically acquired phobias e.g. arachnophobia or phobias that do not follow trauma

Social learning theory -> phobias could develop through modelling & watching the person experience the upset from an object/situation & imitate the behaviour

Question 17

What are the 2 behavioural therapies to treat phobias?

Answer 17

Systematic desensitisation
Flooding

Question 18

What do systematic desensitisation & flooding have in common?

Answer 18

Both use counter-conditioning -> a new response to the phobic stimulus is learnt (relaxation instead of anxiety)

Question 19

Who developed systematic desensitisation?

Answer 19

Joseph Wople

Question 20

How does systematic desensitisation work?

Answer 20

Uses counter conditioning to unlearn the maladaptive response to the phobic stimulus by eliciting relaxation

Question 21

What are the 3 critical components of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 21

An anxiety hierarchy
Relaxation training
Exposure to the phobic stimulus

Question 22

What is an anxiety hierarchy?

Answer 22

A list of situations ranked at how much anxiety is produces

Question 23

What is relaxation?

Answer 23

Reciprocal inhibition -> relaxation & anxiety cannot happen at the same time

Uses imagery/breathing techniques

Question 24

What is exposure?

Answer 24

Exposed to phobic stimulus whilst relaxed at each level of the anxiety hierarchy

Question 25

What are the steps of SD?

Answer 25

Clients are taught relaxation techniques & then construct an anxiety hierarchy with the help of a therapist. In the presence of a therapist the client confronts each item whilst in a state of relaxation & start with the least feared stimulus & move on when they feel relaxed & unafraid in its presence. This continues until they reach the top of the hierarchy & feel relaxed in the presence of all stimuli

Question 26

What are some strengths of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 26

Effective: Gilroy et al -> more effective than relaxation alone, after 33 months & effective for a range of phobias
Can be self administered
McGrath et al -> good results reported (75% patients respond to SD)

Question 27

What is a limitation of SD?

Answer 27

Not appropriate for all

Question 28

What is flooding?

Answer 28

A behavioural therapy in which a phobic patient is exposed to an extreme for of a phobic stimulus in order to reduce anxiety triggered by that stimulus that takes place across a small number of long therapy sessions

Question 29

What are the 2 key points involved in flooding?

Answer 29

Unavoidable exposure to the phobic stimulus
Extinction of the phobia

Question 30

How does flooding work?

Answer 30

The person is exposed to their phobia & experiences a phobic response. Because their body cannot continue to maintain the levels of physiological arousal indefinitely the person will become exhausted from their own fear response & the phobia will be extinguished & they may achieve relaxation

Question 31

What are the ethical safeguards for flooding?

Answer 31

Clients must give informed consent & be prepared for flooding

Question 32

What is a strength of flooding?

Answer 32

Cost effective as it is quicker & cheaper than SD

Question 33

What are some limitations of flooding?

Answer 33

Less effective for complex phobias e.g. social phobias

As it is a traumatic treatment the dropout rate is high & therefore makes it slightly ineffective.