Behaviourist treatments of phobias
- Created by: Georgia
- Created on: 06-05-19 16:11
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- Behaviourist treatments of phobias
- Systematic desensitisation
- 1) Develop hierarchy of fear
- 2) Taught relaxation techniques
- 3) Gradually complete hierarchy
- Reciprocal inhibition - anxiety and relaxation cannot co-exist
- In vivo - physical contact with stimulus
- In vitro - imagined completion of hierarchy
- Flooding
- Immediate exposure to phobic stimulus
- 1) Patient immediately exposed so stimulus is unavoidable
- 2) Initially overwhelmed; subsides due to reciprocal inhibition
- 3) Anxiety drops; extinction of phobia
- SD Evaluation
- Patient is in control so they can go at their own pace
- Low refusal and attrition rates
- Suitable for a wide range of patients, inc. elderly and children
- Much slower process than flooding
- Only treats symptoms which can increase risk of relapse
- Needs multiple sessions so not cost-effective
- Patient is in control so they can go at their own pace
- Flooding evaluation
- Cost-effective and needs less time (only one session)
- Wolpe (1973) PPs w/ driving phobia, initially highly anxious but calmed when they realised they were safe
- Could enhance phobia instead instead of removing it
- Unsuitable for children, disabled, elderly
- Unethical due to extreme stress levels
- Systematic desensitisation
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