The behavioural approach to explaining and treating phobias Flashcards
Who developed the two-process model of phobia acquisition and maintenance?
Mowrer (1947)
What are the two processes involved in the two-process model?
Classical conditioning (acquisition) and operant conditioning (maintenance)
How does classical conditioning contribute to phobia acquisition?
A neutral stimulus becomes associated with a fear response after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus (e.g., a traumatic event)
Who developed systematic desensitisation (SD)?
Wolpe (1958)
How does operant conditioning maintain phobias?
Avoidance of the phobic stimulus reinforces the fear response, reducing anxiety temporarily, making avoidance more likely to continue.
What is the primary aim of systematic desensitisation?
To reduce anxiety towards a phobic stimulus by gradually exposing the individual to it in a controlled manner
What is the hierarchy of fears in systematic desensitisation?
A list of feared situations related to the phobic stimulus arranged from least to most anxiety-provoking
What is the first step in systematic desensitisation?
Relaxation training to help the individual remain calm during exposure
How does systematic desensitisation work in practice?
The individual is gradually exposed to each level of the hierarchy, starting with the least frightening, while practicing relaxation techniques
What is flooding as a treatment for phobias?
A behavioral therapy where the individual is exposed to the phobic stimulus at its most frightening level without gradual steps.
What is counterconditioning in the context of systematic desensitisation?
The process of replacing the fear response with a relaxation response to the phobic stimulus
How is systematic desensitisation typically applied?
Through gradual exposure (e.g., imagining the phobic stimulus, then actual exposure), with relaxation techniques used at each step
How does flooding work to treat phobias?
By preventing the avoidance behaviour, the individual experiences their fear in a safe environment until the anxiety naturally reduces (extinction)
What is the reciprocal inhibition principle in systematic desensitisation?
The idea that one cannot experience two opposing emotions (e.g., fear and relaxation) at the same time, so relaxation inhibits fear
What is extinction in flooding?
The process by which the fear response is reduced over time due to prolonged exposure to the feared stimulus without reinforcement
What is a major drawback of flooding?
It can be very distressing for the individual, potentially leading to drop-out or worsening of the phobia if not carefully managed
What is a key advantage of flooding over other treatments like systematic desensitisation?
It is often quicker because it involves immediate, intense exposure to the phobic stimulus
What is the ethical concern with flooding as a treatment?
It can be traumatic and may lead to increased anxiety before the reduction in fear occurs.
How does systematic desensitisation differ from flooding?
SD is a gradual process, while flooding involves immediate, intense exposure to the phobic stimulus.
Which treatment (systematic desensitisation or flooding) is typically more used with clients?
Systematic desensitisation is generally more used because it involves gradual exposure and is less distressing
