The behavioural approach to treating phobias Flashcards
Which psychological approach is used to treat phobias?
The behavioural approach is used to treat phobias.
How many behavioural methods are used in the treatment of phobias?
Two behavioural methods are used in the treatment of phobias.
Which two behavioural methods are used to treat phobias?
- Systematic desensitisation
- Flooding
What is systematic desensitisation (SD)?
Systematic desensitisation is a behavioural therapy designed to reduce an unwanted response, such as anxiety, to a stimulus. It involves drawing up a hierarchy of anxiety-provoking situations related to the phobic stimulus. The patient works their way through the hierarchy whilst maintaining relaxation.
What is the aim of systematic desensitisation?
Systematic desensitisation aims to gradually expose patients to their most frightening stimulus.
How does systematic desensitisation reduce phobic anxiety?
Classical conditioning aims to reduce phobic anxiety through classical conditioning. This is achieved by a new response to a stimulus being formed (e.g. relaxation as opposed to fear).
Systematic desensitisation requires a new response to the phobic stimulus being learned. What term can be used to describe this process?
Counterconditioning is a term used to describe the learning of a new response.
According to systematic desensitisation, is it possible for a patient to have two responses for a single stimulus?
According to this form of treatment, it is impossible for a patient to have two responses for a single stimulus (e.g. it is impossible to feel afraid and relaxed at the same time). Therefore, one emotion has to prevent the other. This is known as reciprocal inhibition.
What is reciprocal inhibition?
Reciprocal inhibition refers to when one emotion represents the other (e.g. relaxation prevents anxiety).
Using the method of systematic desensitisation, when will a patient be ‘cured’?
If the sufferer can learn to relax in the presence of the phobic stimulus they will be cured.
How many processes are involved in systematic desensitisation?
Three processes are involved in systematic desensitisation
What are the three processes involved in systematic desensitisation?
- The anxiety hierarchy
- Relaxation
- Exposure
The anxiety hierarchy is the first process involved in systematic desensitisation. What is the anxiety hierarchy?
The anxiety hierarchy is put together by the patient and the therapist. This is a list of situations related to the phobic stimulus that provoke anxiety arranged in order from least to most frightening. For example, an arachnophobic might identify seeing a picture of a small spider as low on their anxiety hierarchy and holding a tarantula at the top of the hierarchy.
Relaxation is the second process involved in systematic desensitisation. How are clients taught relaxation techniques?
The therapist teaches the patient to relax as deeply as possible. This might involve breathing exercises or, alternatively, the patient might learn mental imagery techniques. Patients can be taught to imagine themselves in relaxing situations or they might learn meditation. Alternatively relaxation can be achieved using drugs such as Valium.
Exposure is the third and final process involved in systematic desensitisation. Briefly outline this process.
The final stage of systematic desensitisation requires the client to be exposed to the phobic stimulus while in a relaxed state. This takes place across several sessions, starting at the bottom of the anxiety hierarchy. When the patient can stay relaxed in the presence of the lower levels of the phobic stimulus they move up the hierarchy. Treatment is successful when the patient can stay relaxed in situations high on the anxiety hierarchy.
