The behavioural approach to treating phobias Flashcards
What are the 2 treatments of phobias?
Systematic desensitisation and flooding
What is systematic desensitisation?
A form of behavioural therapy where a client is gradually exposed to their phobic stimuli under relaxed conditions
Who developed systematic desensitisation?
Wolpe
What is the basis of systematic desensitisation?
Counterconditioning
What is counterconditioning?
When the patient is taught a new association that runs counter to the original association
How is counterconditioning carried out?
Using classical conditioning
What techniques are taught to clients in systematic desensitisation?
Relaxation techniques
What is the main relaxation technique in systematic desensitisation?
Breathing exercises
Give 2 other examples of relaxation techniques used in systematic desensitisation.
Visualisation and progressive muscle relaxation
What is a desensitisation hierarchy?
Gradually introducing the client to the feared stimuli one step at a time so it is not as overwhelming
What is flooding?
A form of behavioural therapy where a client is exposed to an extreme form of their phobic stimuli under relaxed conditions
When is flooding stopped?
When the client’s anxiety response disappears
What are the 2 ways flooding can be conducted?
In vivo (actual exposure) or virtual reality
What is the rationale behind flooding?
A person’s fear response has a time limit, and as adrenaline levels naturally decrease, a new stimulus response link can be learned
Which treatment is more cost effective?
Flooding (only one session)
What are the 2 AO3 points of systematic desensitisation?
1) Effectiveness
2) Not suitable for all phobias
What percentage of individuals supposedly respond to SD?
75%
Which form of SD was found to be more effective?
A combination of in-vivo and in-vitro techniques
Which phobias may not respond to SD?
Those with underlying evolutionary survival component
Give 2 examples of phobias that may not respond to SD.
Fear of dangerous animals and fear of the dark
Give an example of phobias that may respond to SD.
A phobia of clowns after being scared by one
What are the 2 AO3 points of flooding?
1) Effective
2) Individual differences
What have studies found when comparing SD and flooding?
One found that flooding is more effective at treating the phobia - another found no difference
Why can flooding be considered as unethical?
It does not protect the client from psychological harm
Why is flooding a traumatic experience?
Exposure to the most extreme form of a phobic stimulus can elicit distress
Why do individual differences to flooding limit its effectiveness?
Because due to the distress, many clients will quit/drop out
