Psychopathology - the behavioural approach to treating phobias

Question 1

Systematic desensitisation: Why is it a gradual exposure technique?

Answer 1

Patients learn to respond to a feared stimuli with relaxation instead of anxiety - counter conditioning

Question 2

Systematic desensitisation: How does the anxiety hierarchy work?

Answer 2

List of most stressful scenarios in relation to phobic stimuli
Therapist helps patient gradually work way up list while maintaining relaxation at each stage
If client is ever upset, they can return to earlier stage to regain their relaxed state

Question 3

Systematic desensitisation: Why is patient taught relaxation techniques?

Answer 3

Things like deep breathing induce a relaxed state which can’t coincide with panic/fear

Question 4

Systematic desensitisation: What is meant by reciprocal inhibition?

Answer 4

Idea that fear and relaxation cannot co-exist

Question 5

Systematic desensitisation: How is the CS-CR link changed through SD?

Answer 5

It is replaced and phobic stimuli now creates a response of relaxation

Question 6

Flooding: What is meant by an immediate exposure technique?

Answer 6

Patient put in a very scary situation immediately to prevent avoidance

Question 7

Flooding: What does it prevent a patient doing?

Answer 7

Patient can’t avoid a stimuli - forced to physically deal with the fear face-on

Question 8

Flooding: How does it work through extinction?

Answer 8

Patient quickly learns that phobic stimulus is harmless. In CC terms, this process is called extinction. In some cases, they may achieve relaxation because they’re exhausted