The behavioural approach to treating phobias Flashcards
What is flooding?
Flooding is a behaviourist therapy that uses the idea of classical conditioning to associate phobias with relaxation.
What is first taught in flooding?
Relaxation techniques such as focusing on breathing and muscle relaxation.
What happen after the patient is taught relaxation techniques in flooding?
Immediately exposed to an extreme form on the threatening situation. Cannot use avoidance as they’re not given the right to withdraw.
What happen when the patient is exposed to the extreme situation of their phobia in flooding?
Feel extremely anxious, but the fear response adrenaline has a time limit.
What happen after the patients fear response starts to decrease in flooding?
Adrenaline decreases a new stimulus-response link can be learned between the feared stimulus and relaxation and they overcome their phobia
What is counterconditioning in flooding?
When the patient has learnt to associate the phobic stimulus with a new response relaxation.
How can counterconditioning occur in flooding?
Because of reciprocal inhibition they cannot feel afraid and relaxed at the same time
How is flooding not unethical?
Patients give fully informed consent about the procedure. Even-though it is a very traumatic experience.
What happens if patients use their right to withdraw during the procedure?
They can make their phobia worse as they have reinforced the phobic stimulus is associated with anxiety and not have learnt the new-stimulus response.
What is systematic desensitisation?
It uses counterconditioning and reciprocal inhibition to gradually expose the patient to the phobic stimulus using an anxiety hierarchy
What is the first step in systematic desensitisation?
They are taught how to relax (breathing exercises and muscle relaxation)
What is the second step in systematic desensitisation?
They therapist and patient construct an anxiety hierarchy (least to most frightening)
What is the third step in systematic desensitisation?
They’re exposed to the phobic stimulus in a relaxed state, starting at the bottom of the hierarchy. They practice their techniques until they’re relaxed in the presence of it.
What is the fourth step in systematic desensitisation?
The patient eventually masters the feared situation that caused them to seek help in the first place
There is research to support SD as an effective treatment for phobias? Why is this a strength? (Evidence)
McGrath et al reported that about 75% of patients with phobias responded to SD
There is research to support SD as an effective treatment for phobias? Why is this a strength? (Explain)
This suggests that SD is effective when in vivo techniques are used therefore the treatment should involve actual contact with the phobic stimulus.
However, SD may not be appropriate for all phobias. Why is this problem? (Evidence)
Ohman et al suggested that SD may not be as effective in treating phobias that have an evolutionary component then phobias that have been acquired.
However, SD may not be appropriate for all phobias. Why is this problem? (Explain)
Suggests other forms of therapy such as CBT may be more appropriate than SD when treating certain phobias
A weakness of flooding is that this therapy is a highly traumatic experience. (Evidence)
It is not unethical but patients are often unwilling to see it through to the end. Time and money can be wasted preparing for those who refuse to start or complete
A weakness of flooding is that this therapy is a highly traumatic experience. (Explain)
It may not be an appropriate treatment for everyone as if they quit it can reduce the ultimate effectiveness of the therapy
Although for patients who do choose flooding and stick to it, it is an affective treatment and relatively quick. Why is this a strength? (Evidence)
Choy et al reported that both SD and flooding were effective, but flooding was the more effective of the two at treating phobias
Although for patients who do choose flooding and stick to it, it is an affective treatment and relatively quick. Why is this a strength? (Explain)
This suggests it is a quick and effective treatment as it immediately exposes them.
A common criticism of both therapies is that when one phobia disappears another may appear in it’s place. Why is this a problem? (Evidence)
A phobia of snakes may be replaced with a phobia of trains. This is symptom substitution. It is thought to occur as the phobia is not behavioural. (they can be relaxed around snakes but it will not treat the unconscious problem)
A common criticism of both therapies is that when one phobia disappears another may appear in it’s place. Why is this a problem? (Explain)
This means the treatment uses the psychodynamic approach may be more appropriate, as it emphasises the importance of treating the underlying causes of a phobia rather than the symptoms.
