Therapies - Systematic Desensitisation Flashcards
What is the behaviourist approach’s therapy?
Systematic Desensitisation
What are the main components of S.D?
- Breathing exercises
- Anxiety Hierarchy
- Working through the hierarchy
- Counter conditioning
Explain this main component of S.D: “Relaxation Techniques”
- The therapist helps the client to learn various relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing.
- They also may imagine a place that brings them relaxation.
- This helps them prepare for when they work through the hierarchy.
Describe this main component of S.D: “Anxiety Hierarchy”
- As an individual, the client ranks various fearful stimuli based on how fearful they would be if exposed to it.
- It is listed from least fearful to most fearful, with pictures of the fearful stimuli often being first, and 1to1 exposures being last.
- The therapist does not help rank the exposures as it is the clients choice.
Explain this main component of S.D: “Working through the Anxiety Hierarchy”
- Together the client and the therapist work through the anxiety hierarchy, starting with the least fearful stimuli.
- When presented with each stimuli, the client uses their breathing techniques to stay calm, and only moves onto the next one when they remain this way. [Gradual exposure]
- Some of the stimuli are in vitro [imagined exposure] and some are in vivo [actual exposure]
- Through S.D, they are working to counter condition the learned response to the stimulus.
Name the first effectiveness point for S.D
- Lang & Lazovik: 11 sessions of working through a snake phobia. Effective for most and progress still evident after six months.
Name the second effectiveness point for S.D
- Rothbaum et al [2000] used virtual reality [in vitro exposure] to treat people’s flying phobia.
- 93% agreed to take a test flight, and effectiveness was present up to 6 months later.
Name the third effectiveness point for S.D
- Ancient fears such as a fear of the dark are not resolved by SD
- This is because the cause is evolutionary and genetically programmed rather than from association.
Name the fourth effectiveness point for S.D
- SD may not fully treat the underlying cause of the phobia.
- E.g Little Hans was treated for a fear of horses, but the actual fear was associated with his father.
Name the first ethics point of S.D
- More ethical than other therapies for children because they might find it tricky to stick to drug regimes or may.not fully understand the treatment.
Name the second ethics point for S.D
- Considered ethical because it is better than flooding
- Instead of a sudden exposure they are gradually exposed
Name the third ethics point for S.D
- Considered ethical because any anxiety a client may feel can be justified
- Stimulus can be removed at any time
Namethe fourth ethics point for S.D
- Ethical because the client is attending out of own free will
- Can choose to stop the treatment at any time/end exposure to fearful stimulis
What is the aim of Systematic Desensitisation?
- Learn a new response to a phobic stimulus
- Achieved through the principles of classical conditioning
- Opposing emotions cannot exist at the same time [reciprocal inhibition]
- Also known as counter conditioning
What assumptions of the Behaviourist approach link to S.D?
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning
- Blank slate
How does Classical Conditioning link to S.D?
-The therapy uses the principles of classical conditioning to create a more helpful response to the fearful stimulus.
- Done through counter conditioning; which reverses the process of classical conditioning which lead to the original fear becoming apparent.
How does Blank Slate link to S.D?
- We are all born blank slates, and learn through our enviroment/the people who raise us.
- Therefore, we are born with no fears and they are learnt though our environment [link to Little Albert.]
How does Operant Conditioning link to S.D?
- When the client successfully feels relaxed when presented to the fearful stimulus, the positive reinforcement of overcoming this stage encourages them to move on with the anxiety hierarchy
