Psychopathology: The Behavioural Treatments Of Phobias - SD And Flooding TW Flashcards
Name two behavioural treatments for phobias
Systematic desensitisation + flooding
Systematic desensitisation uses which behaviourist principle?
Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning is learning through..
Association
What type of behavioural response is systematic desensitsation used to unlearn?
Maladaptive
People with phobias have a condition response to a….
Conditioned stimulus
Name the 4 stages of systematic desensitisation
Relaxation
Hierarchy of anxiety
Gradual exposure
Complete treatment
In the first stage of systematic desensitisation, what happens?
The patient is taught relaxation techniques
What happens in the second stage of systematic desensitisation?
The patient and therapist work together to create a graded scale / hierarchy with the least feared stimulus at the bottom, and the most feared at the top
What happens in the third stage of systematic desensitisation?
The patient is gradually exposed to their phobic stimulus
When exposed to their phobic stimulus, what must the patient do when completing systematic desensitisation
Use relaxation techniques
When two incompatible states of mind cannot co-exist at the same time, this is referred to as ….
Reciprocal inhibition
When does the patient progress through a stage in systematic desensitisation?
When they are fully relaxed when exposed to the stimulus
When is systematic desensitisation complete?
When the patient is desensitised, and can move through the hierarchy without anxiety
“The aim of systematic desensitisation is for the patient to _________ their phobic stimulus with ____________”
Re-associate their phobic stimulus with relaxation
“Classical conditioning is learning through consequences”
True or false
False - learning through association
Why may systematic desensitsation not be appropriate for all individuals with phobias?
As it requires motivation and commitment
Why does systematic desensitsation require motivation + commitment ?
As patients must attend sessions over a long period of time and be exposed to anxiety provoking situations
Why may systematic desensitsation be seen as a more appropriate therapy than flooding?
Because the patient has control over their own therapy
Gilroy followed 42 people who had systematic desensitsation for which common phobia?
Spiders (arachnophobia)
Why are relaxation techniques encouraged when patients are exposed to their phobic stimulus
As two incompatible states of mind cannot co-exist at the same time
How is systematic desensitisation different to flooding as a treatment for phobias?
In systematic desensitisation, the patient is gradually exposed
WHEREAS
In flooding, the patient is immediately exposed
A student has written the following:
“Systematic desensitisation uses classical conditioning to unlearn phobias. Flooding uses operant conditioning”
Is this correct, or incorrect - why?
Incorrect - both behavioural treatments use classical conditioning
Operant conditioning is learning through association
True or false?
False - learning through consequence
What is the aim of flooding?
To use classical conditioning to unlearn maladaptive response to stimulus
In flooding, the patient is;
A) Immediately exposed to their least feared situation
B) Immediately exposed to their most feared situation
C) Exposed to their most feared situation after relaxation
B - there is no prior stages of relaxation before phobic exposure
What emotional and behavioural characteristics will a patient experience when exposed to their phobia in flooding?
Emotional = anxiety
Behavioural = panic
What happens to the fear response after a continued exposure to the phobic stimulus in flooding?
It becomes exhausted
How long does flooding usually take?
2 - 3 hours
What is the process of the patients anxiety disappearing referred to as?
Extinction
What does the patient learn about the phobic stimulus through flooding?
That the phobic stimulus is harmless
What does the patient learn about the phobic stimulus through flooding?
That the phobic stimulus is harmless
Why may flooding be more appropriate than systematic desensitsation?
As it is more cost effective for the NHS, as less time is needed
A student has written the following answer:
“Flooding is more appropriate than systematic desensitsation as a treatment for phobias as it requires less motivation and commitment”
Is this correct, or incorrect - and why?
Incorrect - flooding will still require motivation and commitment as you are exposing yourself to your most feared situation immediately
Why may flooding not be as effective as systematic desensitsation?
As drop out rates are higher
Systematic desensitsation wants patients to re-associate their phobia with _________
Relaxation
Which treatment for phobias provides patients with the most control?
Systematic desensitisation
How does systematic desensitsation give patients more control over their treatment?
Through helping therapist make hierarchy / are gradually exposed when they feel relaxed
Which behavioural treatment would be most appropriate when treating a phobia of sharks?
