Saavedra and Silverman learning core study on a button phobia Flashcards
Assumptions of the learning approach and how they relate to this core study
- Learn through the process of classical conditioning (assositation) the child’s phobia was unlernt by targeting disgust and fear respose reducing the distress associated with the button phobis.
- Learn theough operant conditioning (reward and punchment) the boy’s mother provided postitive reinforcement when succesful in gradual exposure
The psychology that is being investigated
- disgust in phobias as it suggest to interact with fear which leads to avoidance behaviour
- evaluative learning- form of classical conditoing
- intervention focusing on disgust- exposer based cognitive behavioural therapy to target fear and disgust
The background
Classical conditioning, ideology that phobias can be learned and unlearned just like any other behavior, phobias are not only fear based but also linked to strong feelings of disgust
What is a phobia
a persistant unreasonable fear of an object that leads to avoidance
The aims
- To investigate whether exposure to buttons would help to treat his phobia.
- To investigate what caused / reason for having the phobia of buttons in a boy
To investigate the role of fear and disgust in relation to his/a phobia (2 marks).
The procedures of the behavioural exposure
- treated with exposure-based teatment phobia
- mother gave child positive reinforcement
- sessions laster 30 minutes which boy alone and 20 with mom and boy
- 1st session he rate buttons 0-8 with feeling thermometer
- had 4 behavioural exposers with this hierarchy
The 7 sessions after behavioural exposer procedure
- look at boys disgust imagery
- involved him exploring what he found disgusting
- researcher used self-control and cognitive stratiges for him to change his thoughts
Describe the experience the boy reported.
- There was an art project
- He ran out of buttons
- He accidentally knocked the buttons over
- All the buttons fell down on him
State the highest a lowest rating on the 0-8 feelings thermometer
- 2 for large denim-jean buttons
- 8 small plastic coloured and clear buttons
What did the boy find about his disgust
- disgust when they touched his body
- they emitted an unpleastent smell
The research method used
case study
The number of participants and where they are from
- one 9 year old boy
- hispanic- american
- met the DSM IV criteria for specific button phobia
The sampling method used
opportunity
The controls used
the feelings thermometer
DSM-IV critera for phobia
Types of questions asked
what he found disgusting about buttons
Data collection method used
clinical interviews and subjective ratings of distress by the participant, using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV–Child
Ethical issues
- had informed consent from boy who wanted therapy and his mother. Allowed for therapy and account to be a published journal
Results
Quantitative/qualitative data & how it is represented and interpeted
Outline how the boy’s severity rating for buttons changed during
behavioural exposure sessions.:
- The severity rating remained the same for the first two sessions.
- The ratings increased from session 2 to session 3.
- The ratings increased from session 3 to session 4.
results from the post-treatment assessment session. - The boy reported minimal less distress
- He no longer met the (DSM) criteria for a specific phobia.
Conclusions drawn
Disgust plays a key role in the development and maintenance of a phobia but behaioural helped eleminate the feeling.
Strengths
Methodological issues:
Reserach method, reliabilty,validty,generalibily,& control of variables
- valdity- case study foucsing on one particpant helps collect in-depth details. A lot of data to best understand and treat the boys phobia
- ecological validy - the participant stuided in their day to day life
Weakness
Methodological Issues
Reserach method, reliabilty,validty,generalibily,& control of variables
Generlisation - researcher foucues on one indivudual and could be unique. Hard to generlize as he might not represtn others who could have a button phobia
- use of children he was put under distress so physical harm occured yet he did give consent and agreed to therapy.
Everyday Life
The issues of application of psychology and how it realtes to the study
Intervension thearpy is a success Could be implemnt to people with other phobias using exposer-based treatment to help decrease phobias
Individual and Situational explanations debate
how it relates to the study
I
boy had a rare phobia and experince was unquie to him
S
support thearpies help him recover with therypu and moms postive reinforcment
Nature vs. Nurture Debate
how it relates to the study
The process by which the phobia was acquired relates to nurture learning.
Use of children in psychological
How it realtes to the core study
- he gave consent even though he was exposed and probably psychologicaly harmed
- the sessions were most likely made for the kid to not get bored of the task
