The behavioural approach- Treating phobias

Question 1

A01

Outline Systematic desensitisation

Answer 1

Behavioural therapy designed to gradually reduce phobic anxiety through classical conditioning
>if person can relax in presence of phobic stimulus -will be cured/ counterconditioned

> then new response to phobic stimulus is learned(phobic stimulus is paired with relaxation instead of anxiety)-this response called(counterconditioning)

Question 2

A01

Outline 3 Processes in SD

Answer 2

1. The anxiety hierarchy
   2.relaxation & reciprocal inhibition
   3.Exposure

Question 3

A01

1. Explain first step of SD-anxiety hierarchy

anxiety hierarchy-AH

Answer 3

AH Put together by client with phobia & therapist
>which is a list of situations related to phobic stimulus that provoke anxiety
>arrange from least to most frightening

i.e person with arachnophobia might identify picture of small spider as low on AH & holding tarantula at top of heirarchy

Question 4

A01

2 what is Relaxation & reciprocal inhibition

Answer 4

> Therapist teaches client to relax deeply as possible
its impossible to be afraid & relaxed at same time
one emotion prevents the other- reciprocal inhibition
The relaxation involves breathing exercises
client imagines self in relaxing situations e.g meditation

Question 5

A01

3 what is Exposure

Answer 5

Client is exposed to phobic stimulus-while in relaxed state
>starting at bottom of anxiety hierarchy
>when client is relaxed in presence of low levels of phobic stimulus
>move up hierarchy
>treatment successful-when relaxed in situations high on anxiety hierarchy
> the old association of phobic stimulus is extinict & new association with relaxion formed

Question 6

Flooding

Answer 6

involves immediate exposure to phobic stimulus straight away without build of anxiety hierarchy
>flooding stops phobic responses as without given the option of avoidance behaviour of phobic stimulus the client learns it is harmless(extinction)
>a fear response takes energy eventaullly client calms down in presence of phobic stimulus -no longer shows fear response
>counterconditioned

Question 7

A03

SD applied in VR

Strentgth for SD

Answer 7

• Principles of SD applied to virtual reality exposure therapy
• Exposure through VR can be used to avoid dangerous situations (e.g heights)
• counterpoint VR less effective for social phobias-easier to construct anxiety hierarchy for object related phobias that lack realism than stimulate social situations

Question 8

A03

People with learning disabilities
(strength of SD) A03

strength

Answer 8

SD can be used to treat Ppl with learning disabilities
ppl requiring treatment for phobias with learning disability may struggle with cognitive therapists that require high levels of rational thought
>may feel distressed by traumatic experiences like flooding
>Means SD most appropriate treatment for ppl with learning difficulties

Question 9

A03

flooding-cost effective

Strength

Answer 9

• flooding highly cost effective
• cost effectiveness means how effective a therapy is at tackling symptoms
  flooding can work by one session as opposed to 10 sessions for SD to achieve same results
  >more ppl can be treated by same cost with flooding than SD

Question 10

A03

Flooding is Traumatic-schumacher

Limitation

Answer 10

highly traumatic experience
confronting phobic stimulus in extreme forms provokes anxiety
Schumacher et al-found P rated flooding more stressful than SD
raises ethical concerns for psychologists as they caused stress to P
& traumatic nature of flooding means attrition(dropouts) rates higher than SD