10. The Behavioural Approach To Treating Phobias AO1

Question 1

Name two behavioural approaches to treating phobias

Answer 1

Systematic desensitisation and flooding

Question 2

Outline the process of counterconditioning

Answer 2

Phobia is leaned so that it produces fear, phobia is then paired with relaxation and this becomes the new conditioned response

Question 3

What is reciprocal inhibition?

Answer 3

It is not possible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time, so one emotion prevents the other

Question 4

What is anxiety hierarchy?

Answer 4

Patient and therapist design an anxiety hierarchy which is a list of fearful stimuli arranged in order of most to least frightening

Question 5

Explain the process of anxiety hierarchy

Answer 5

Phobic is first taught relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and then work through the anxiety hierarchy, at each level the phobic is exposed to stimulus in a relaxed state, his takes place over several sessions and is successful when person can stay relaxed

Question 6

What is flooding?

Answer 6

This involves bombarding the phobic patient with the phobic object without gradual build up

Question 7

What is extinction in regard to flooding?

Answer 7

Without the option of avoidance behaviour, the patient quickly learns that the phobic object is harmless through the exhaustion of their fear response

Question 8

What is learning phobic stimulus isn’t harmful called?

Answer 8

Extinction

Question 9

What must patients give before flooding can take place?

Answer 9

Informed consent