Saavedra and Silverman

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

• to examine the role of classical conditioning in relation to fear and avoidance of a particular stimulus.
• researchers wanted to see if using a type of exposure therapy could reduce the disgust and distress associated with buttons.

Question 2

Classical conditioning

Answer 2

-a form of learning in which an unconditioned response becomes linked to a previously neutral stimulus to create a learned association.

Question 3

Evaluative learning

Answer 3

-a form of classical conditioning wherein attitudes towards stimuli are considered to be the product of complex thought processes and emotions which lead an individual to perceive or evaluate a previously neutral stimulus negatively.

Question 4

Research method

Answer 4

• case study
• data collected using self-report measure
• interviewed
• a nine-point scale of disgust known as ‘Feelings Thermometer’

Question 5

Sample

Answer 5

-9-year-old Hispanic American boy

sought support from the Child Anxiety and Phobia Program at Florida International University, Miami

Question 6

Procedure

Answer 6

• informed consent
• phobia had begun at age 5 when knocked over a bowl of buttons in front of his friends and teacher
• clear plastic buttons were rated 8, large denim jeans button was 2.
• treated with two interventions

Question 7

Contingency management

Answer 7

• a form of positive reinforcement therapy
• rewarded for showing less fear and actually handling the button
• lasted for 20 to 30 mins
• observed approaching the buttons more carefully
• his subjective ratings of distress increased
• despite apparent behavioral change, evaluative reactions remain unchanged or even increased.

Question 8

Imagery Exposure

Answer 8

• found buttons touching his body disgusting and that buttons smelled unpleasant
• disgust related imagery exposures were incorporated with cognitive self-control strategies
• asked to imagine buttons falling on hi, and to consider how they looked, felt and smelled
• also asked to talk about how these imagery exposures made him feel
• exposures progressed from images of larger to smaller buttons, in ine with the boy’s fear hierarchy.
• example: hundreds of buttons falling all over his body
• reduced to 5 midway through the exposure and just 3 after the exposure was complete

Question 9

Conclusion

Answer 9

• emotions and cognitions relating to disgust are important when learning new responses to phobic stimuli
• imagery exposure can have a long term effect on reducing the distress associated with specific phobias as it tackles negative evaluations