The Behavioural Approach To Treating Phobias - System Desensitiation Flashcards
What is treatment 1 ?
System desensitisation
What is system desensitisation ?
The sufferer learns to associate phobic object with relaxation rather than fear called counter conditioning.
What are the two branches of the nervous system?
Sympathetic branch
Parasympathetic branch
Are branches working at the same time?
No one branch is always dominant- can’t feel relaxed anxious at one time
What is the sympathetic branch?
Physical symptoms of anxiety
What is parasympathetic branch controlling?
Relaxation
What is reciprocal inhibition?
During therapy anxiety response ( sympathetic ) is inhibited by dominant relaxation ( parasympathetic)
Which leads to the reduction of anxiety
What does noradrenaline do ?
Help stress , and attention levels
Explain how system desensitisation will occur?
Therapists would train the client in relaxation techniques - similar to meditation to obtain a completely relaxed physical state
Client and therapists create a personalised anxiety hierarchy by listing situations which cause the least anxiety to most anxiety
Hierarchy should end with direct exposure to the extreme phobic stimulus ( in vivo desensitisation)
What is covert desensitisation?
The patient’s imagination