The Behavioural Approach to treating Phobias

Question 1

Systematic Desensitisation

Answer 1

AO1

Question 2

based on classical conditioning- counterconditioning and reciprocal inhibition

Answer 2

-the therapy aims to gradually reduce anxiety through counterconditioning
-phobia is learned so that phobic stimulus (CS) - fear (CS)
-CS is paired with relaxation- becomes the new CR
reciprocal inhibition- not possible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time- one emotion prevents the other

Question 3

formation of the anxiety hierarchy

Answer 3

patient and therapist design a anxiety hierarchy - list of fearful stimulus arranged from least to most frighetning
-eg seeing a spider to holding one

Question 4

relaxation practiced at each level of the hierarchy

Answer 4

• phobic is 1st taught relaxation techniques such as deep breathing
• patient then works through the anxiety hierarchy-at each level the phobic is exposed to the phobic stimulus in a relaxed state
• takes place over several sessions starting at the bottom oh the H- treatment is successful when the phobic can remain relaxed at the highest point on the H

Question 5

flooding

Answer 5

AO1

Question 6

immediate exposure to the phobic stimulus

Answer 6

• flooding involves bombarding the phobic with the phobic object without a gradual build up
• eg holding a spider under they are fully relaxed

Question 7

very quick learning through extinction

Answer 7

-without the option of avoidance behaviour the patient quickly learns that the phobic object is harmless thought the exhaustion of their fear response- known as extinction

Question 8

ethical safeguards

Answer 8

not unethical but it is unpleasant experience- important that patients give informed consent- fully prepared and know what to expect

Question 9

Evaluation

A03

Answer 9

strength - SD is effective - shown in Gilroy et all (2003)- followed up 42 patients who had SD for spider phobia in 3- 45 mins sessions- at both 3 and 33 months the SD group less fearful than the control group treated by relaxation without exposure- strength because it shows Sd is helpful in reducing the anxiety in spider phobics- long lasting effects

strength- suitably for a diverse range of patients- alternatives to SD such as flooding and cognitive therapies not well suited to some patients- eg patients with learning difficulties can make it hard for patients to understand what is happening during flooding or to engage with COG T that require reflection- SD - appropriate treatment

weakness- flooding is less effective for some types of phobias- might be highly effective for some simple phobias but less effective for complex phobias like social phobias- cognitive aspects- eg sufferers from social phobia not only anxiety but irrational thoughts about social situations- this type of phobia may benefit more from cognitive theories- they tackle irrational thinking