Saavedra And Silverman (psych/method)

Question 1

What is a phobia?

Answer 1

The irrational/persistent fear of a stimulus (object/event) which creates anxiety and avoidance.

Question 2

Aim of the study (1)

Answer 2

To examine CC in relation to fear/stimulus avoidance.

Question 3

Aim of the study (2)

Answer 3

To find out whether exposure therapy would reduce disgust and avoidance
Towards buttons
(In the case of a boy with button phobia)

Question 4

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 4

A form of learning
In which a previously neutral stimulus associates with a unconditioned response to create a learned response.

Question 5

What is evaluative learning?

Answer 5

A form of learning in which an individual associates a neutral stimulus with a negative evaluation/ emotion (like disgust)

Question 6

Evaluative learning would suggest that attitudes towards stimuli are a result of what?

Answer 6

Complex cognitions and emotions

Question 7

How can evaluative learning be used to treat phobias?

Answer 7

Negative emotions (like disgust) may be appropriate target emotion for phobia treatment (as well as primary emotion-fear)

Question 8

What psychology is being investigated?

Answer 8

1) Classical conditioning- is a form of learning in which a UR associates with a previously neutral stimulus.
Phobias can be learnt/ unlearnt like other behaviours.

2) Evaluative learning: A form of classical conditioning in which an individual forms an association between a neutral stimulus and a negative emotion.

Phobias may be caused by EL as the individual negatively evaluates a stimulus w/out necessarily anticipating danger. This negative evaluation elicits disgust rather than fear.

Question 9

What is the difference between classical conditioning and evaluative learning? (Psychology being investigated)

Answer 9

as the person is being cognitively active by thinking about disgust and consequences rather than being passive.

Question 10

What research methods were used?

Answer 10

Clinical case study
Observation
Self report

Question 11

How does this study constitute as a case study?

Answer 11

It only involved 1 ppts
Whose life history and treatment were studied in depth.

Question 12

What data collection methods were used?

Answer 12

Self report measures
(interviews- the boy and his mother were interviewed)
and feelings thermometer)

Question 13

What was the boy and his mother interviews about initially?

Answer 13

The onset of his phobia
And subsequent behaviour

Question 14

What materials were used in the study?

Answer 14

DSM5
Feelings thermometer

Question 15

Materials- DSM5

Answer 15

Used to diagnose him with button phobia

Question 16

Materials- feelings thermometer

Answer 16

The rating scale used to measure the boys distress

Question 17

Sample

Answer 17

9 y/o Hispanic American

Question 18

When did the boy start to show symptoms? (Sample)

Answer 18

4 years prior to the start of the study when he knocked over the bowl of buttons infront of his class and teacher.

Question 19

Sampling method (sample)

Answer 19

Opportunity sample

Question 20

Sample - (ethics)

Answer 20

The boy and his mother consented to participate and publish the results

Question 21

Background of the study

Answer 21

Hepburn and Paige
Found in their study of adults with blood phobia that treating patients disgust and fear would help them make progress.

Question 22

What was the most feared item in the hierarchy of feared stimuli?

Answer 22

Small clear plastic buttons/ touching someone wearing these buttons
======distress rating of 8

Question 23

What item/stimuli had the lowest distress rating?

Answer 23

Large denim jean buttons

Question 24

What treatments were used?

Answer 24

1. Positive reinforcement therapy
2. Imagery exposure therapy