Systematic desensitisation Flashcards
Systematic Desensitisation is based on which theory?
Classical Conditioning
What is it called when you replace one learned response with another?
Counter conditioning
What is reciprocal inhibition?
You cannot be both scared and relaxed at the same time
How does the main process of this treatment work?
You create a hierarchy of fears and work from the bottom up using relaxation techniques
What are you taught during this therapy?
Relaxation techniques
How does the treatment work?
You start at the bottom of the hierarchy and practice your relaxation technique to relax before moving up
What is the first step of systematic desensitisation?
Functional analysis
What is the second step of Systematic desensitisation?
Creating a fear hierarchy
What is the third step of Systematic desensitisation?
Relaxation techniques
What is the fourth step of Systematic desensitisation?
Gradual exposure
Functional analysis means?
Identifying which things about the phobic stimulus trigger your fears
Creating a fear hierarchy means?
You put the details about your fears from lowest to highest
Relaxation techniques means?
You are taught deep breathing or muscle relaxation etc
Gradual exposure means?
You start at the bottom of the hierarchy and practice your relaxation technique to relax before moving up
What would be the UCS in this therapy?
The relaxation techniques
What would be the UCR/CR in this therapy?
Relaxation
What would be the NS in this therapy?
The phobic stimulus
What happens to the phobia by the end?
It goes extinct
What is a benefit of Flooding over Systematic desensitisation?
It is quicker/takes less time
What is a benefit of Systematic Desensitisation over Flooding?
It is more ethical as it is more gradual so doesn’t cause as much panic/anxiety
What did Willis and Edwards find?
compared SD and flooding to treat mice phobics and found SD to be more effective (flooding no better than no therapy)
What did McGrath find?
It is 75% effective in treating people with specific phobias i.e. of objects
What did Gilroy find?
When examine three months and 33 months later, the systematic desensitisation group were less fearful than a control group (who were only taught relaxation techniques).
What did Capfons find?
has shown that it can be used to get rid of fear of flying. (The results showed all but two those who had systematic desensitization treatment reported lower levels of fear)
What is an issue with this therapy?
It Is prolonged and can take a long time to complete
What can happen with the phobia after the treatment?
Spontaneous recovery- it comes back
What types of phobias might this have a bigger issue with dealing?
Social phobias/ones not caused by classical conditioning
