treating phobias: behavioural approach Flashcards
What is systematic desensitisation (SD)?
A behavioural therapy designed to gradually reduce phobic anxiety through classical conditioning.
What principle is systematic desensitisation based on?
Classical conditioning.
What is the first process involved in SD?
The anxiety hierarchy.
Who creates the anxiety hierarchy in SD?
The client and therapist together.
What is the anxiety hierarchy?
A list of situations related to the phobic stimulus
What is the second process in SD?
Relaxation.
What is reciprocal inhibition?
The idea that it is impossible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time
What relaxation techniques might be used in SD?
Breathing exercises
What is the third process in SD?
Exposure.
How is exposure conducted in SD?
The client is exposed to the phobic stimulus in a relaxed state
When is SD treatment considered successful?
When the client can stay relaxed in situations high on the anxiety hierarchy.
What is flooding?
A therapy that exposes people with a phobia to their phobic stimulus without gradual build-up.
How does flooding differ from SD?
Flooding involves immediate exposure rather than gradual exposure.
What is the aim of flooding?
To extinguish the conditioned response to the phobic stimulus by preventing avoidance.
What is the unconditioned stimulus in flooding?
The phobic stimulus (e.g.
What is the conditioned response in flooding?
Fear.
Why can flooding be effective quickly?
Because the client quickly learns that the phobic stimulus is harmless.
Is flooding unethical?
No
What is an ethical safeguard in flooding?
Clients are fully prepared and given the choice between SD and flooding.
What is a strength of SD?
It is effective for treating phobias.
Who found evidence for SD’s effectiveness?
Lisa Gilroy et al. (2003) and Theresa Wechsler et al. (2019).
How can SD help people with learning disabilities?
It is suitable because other therapies may not be appropriate for them.
What is a limitation of SD in virtual reality?
VR may be less effective than real exposure for some phobias.
What is a strength of flooding?
It is highly cost-effective.
Why is flooding cost-effective?
It can work in as little as one session and does not require as many resources as SD.
What is a limitation of flooding?
It can be traumatic and highly unpleasant.
Why might flooding not be suitable for everyone?
Because of the high level of anxiety it can cause.
