Saavedra and Silverman learning core study on a button phobia

Question 1

Assumptions of the learning approach and how they relate to this core study

Answer 1

• 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

Question 2

The psychology that is being investigated

Answer 2

• 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

Question 3

The background

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What is a phobia

Answer 4

a persistant unreasonable fear of an object that leads to avoidance

Question 5

The aims

Answer 5

• 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).

Question 6

The procedures of the behavioural exposure

Answer 6

• 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

Question 7

The 7 sessions after behavioural exposer procedure

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

Describe the experience the boy reported.

Answer 8

• There was an art project
• He ran out of buttons
• He accidentally knocked the buttons over
• All the buttons fell down on him

Question 9

State the highest a lowest rating on the 0-8 feelings thermometer

Answer 9

• 2 for large denim-jean buttons
• 8 small plastic coloured and clear buttons

Question 10

What did the boy find about his disgust

Answer 10

• disgust when they touched his body
• they emitted an unpleastent smell

Question 11

The research method used

Answer 11

case study

Question 12

The number of participants and where they are from

Answer 12

• one 9 year old boy
• hispanic- american
• met the DSM IV criteria for specific button phobia

Question 13

The sampling method used

Answer 13

opportunity

Question 14

The controls used

Answer 14

the feelings thermometer
DSM-IV critera for phobia

Question 15

Types of questions asked

Answer 15

what he found disgusting about buttons

Question 16

Data collection method used

Answer 16

clinical interviews and subjective ratings of distress by the participant, using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV–Child

Question 17

Ethical issues

Answer 17

• had informed consent from boy who wanted therapy and his mother. Allowed for therapy and account to be a published journal

Question 18

Results

Quantitative/qualitative data & how it is represented and interpeted

Outline how the boy’s severity rating for buttons changed during
behavioural exposure sessions.:

Answer 18

• 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.

Question 19

Conclusions drawn

Answer 19

Disgust plays a key role in the development and maintenance of a phobia but behaioural helped eleminate the feeling.

Question 20

Strengths
Methodological issues:

Reserach method, reliabilty,validty,generalibily,& control of variables

Answer 20

• 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

Question 21

Weakness
Methodological Issues

Reserach method, reliabilty,validty,generalibily,& control of variables

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Everyday Life

The issues of application of psychology and how it realtes to the study

Answer 22

Intervension thearpy is a success Could be implemnt to people with other phobias using exposer-based treatment to help decrease phobias

Question 23

Individual and Situational explanations debate

how it relates to the study

Answer 23

I
boy had a rare phobia and experince was unquie to him
S
support thearpies help him recover with therypu and moms postive reinforcment

Question 24

Nature vs. Nurture Debate

how it relates to the study

Answer 24

The process by which the phobia was acquired relates to nurture learning.

Question 25

Use of children in psychological

How it realtes to the core study

Answer 25

• 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