The behavioural approach to treating phobias

Question 1

What are the 2 treatments of phobias?

Answer 1

Systematic desensitisation and flooding

Question 2

What is systematic desensitisation?

Answer 2

A form of behavioural therapy where a client is gradually exposed to their phobic stimuli under relaxed conditions

Question 3

Who developed systematic desensitisation?

Answer 3

Wolpe

Question 4

What is the basis of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 4

Counterconditioning

Question 5

What is counterconditioning?

Answer 5

When the patient is taught a new association that runs counter to the original association

Question 6

How is counterconditioning carried out?

Answer 6

Using classical conditioning

Question 7

What techniques are taught to clients in systematic desensitisation?

Answer 7

Relaxation techniques

Question 8

What is the main relaxation technique in systematic desensitisation?

Answer 8

Breathing exercises

Question 9

Give 2 other examples of relaxation techniques used in systematic desensitisation.

Answer 9

Visualisation and progressive muscle relaxation

Question 10

What is a desensitisation hierarchy?

Answer 10

Gradually introducing the client to the feared stimuli one step at a time so it is not as overwhelming

Question 11

What is flooding?

Answer 11

A form of behavioural therapy where a client is exposed to an extreme form of their phobic stimuli under relaxed conditions

Question 12

When is flooding stopped?

Answer 12

When the client’s anxiety response disappears

Question 13

What are the 2 ways flooding can be conducted?

Answer 13

In vivo (actual exposure) or virtual reality

Question 14

What is the rationale behind flooding?

Answer 14

A person’s fear response has a time limit, and as adrenaline levels naturally decrease, a new stimulus response link can be learned

Question 15

Which treatment is more cost effective?

Answer 15

Flooding (only one session)

Question 16

What are the 2 AO3 points of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 16

1) Effectiveness
2) Not suitable for all phobias

Question 17

What percentage of individuals supposedly respond to SD?

Answer 17

75%

Question 18

Which form of SD was found to be more effective?

Answer 18

A combination of in-vivo and in-vitro techniques

Question 19

Which phobias may not respond to SD?

Answer 19

Those with underlying evolutionary survival component

Question 20

Give 2 examples of phobias that may not respond to SD.

Answer 20

Fear of dangerous animals and fear of the dark

Question 21

Give an example of phobias that may respond to SD.

Answer 21

A phobia of clowns after being scared by one

Question 22

What are the 2 AO3 points of flooding?

Answer 22

1) Effective
2) Individual differences

Question 23

What have studies found when comparing SD and flooding?

Answer 23

One found that flooding is more effective at treating the phobia - another found no difference

Question 24

Why can flooding be considered as unethical?

Answer 24

It does not protect the client from psychological harm

Question 25

Why is flooding a traumatic experience?

Answer 25

Exposure to the most extreme form of a phobic stimulus can elicit distress

Question 26

Why do individual differences to flooding limit its effectiveness?

Answer 26

Because due to the distress, many clients will quit/drop out