The Behavioural Approach To Treating Phobias - System Desensitiation

Question 1

What is treatment 1 ?

Answer 1

System desensitisation

Question 2

What is system desensitisation ?

Answer 2

The sufferer learns to associate phobic object with relaxation rather than fear called counter conditioning.

Question 3

What are the two branches of the nervous system?

Answer 3

Sympathetic branch
Parasympathetic branch

Question 4

Are branches working at the same time?

Answer 4

No one branch is always dominant- can’t feel relaxed anxious at one time

Question 5

What is the sympathetic branch?

Answer 5

Physical symptoms of anxiety

Question 6

What is parasympathetic branch controlling?

Answer 6

Relaxation

Question 7

What is reciprocal inhibition?

Answer 7

During therapy anxiety response ( sympathetic ) is inhibited by dominant relaxation ( parasympathetic)
Which leads to the reduction of anxiety

Question 8

What does noradrenaline do ?

Answer 8

Help stress , and attention levels

Question 9

Explain how system desensitisation will occur?

Answer 9

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)

Question 10

What is covert desensitisation?

Answer 10

The patient’s imagination