McGrath - Treatment of a noise phobia

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  • Created by: Steff06
  • Created on: 31-05-16 15:46
What does the behaviourist perspective say that?
Says that behaviour is learnt and so has little to do with the individual and more to do with the situation they are in.
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Describe systematic desensitisation
By pairing the phobic stimulus with something pleasant or relaxing.
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What was the aim of McGrath's research?
To treat a girl with specific noise phobias using systematic desensitisation.
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Describe the methodology used in McGrath's study
A case study that details the treatment of a noise phobia in one girl.
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Who was the participant in McGrath's research?
Lucy, a 9 year old girl. Lower than average IQ, not depressed, anxious or fearful.
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What was Lucy fearful of?
She had a fear of sudden loud noises e.g. party poppers, balloons, guns, cars backfiring and fireworks.
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What was the design in this study?
A single-participant design.
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Describe the introductory session and the 1st session
Lucy was brought to the therapy session and the programme explained to her and her parents, who gave consent for further sessions. 1st session - Constructed a hierarchy of feared noises.
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What was Lucy taught?
Taught to breathing and imagery to relax and told to imagine herself at home on her bed with her toys.
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What did she also have to rate her fear?
She had a hypothetical fear thermometer to rate her level of fear from 1 to 10.
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What would she do when she was given the stimulus of the loud noise?
She paired her feared object with relaxation, deep breathing and imagining herself at home with her toys to lead her to feel calm.
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What happened after the 4th session?
After the 4th session, Lucy had learned to feel calm when the noise was presented. She did not need to imagine herself at home with her toys anymore.
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Describe Lucy at the end of the 1st session
She was reluctant to let balloons be burst even at the far end of the corridor. When burst, she cried and had to be taken away and encouraged to breathe deeply and relax.
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Describe Lucy's progress at the end of her 4th session
She was able to signal a balloon to be burst 10 metres away, with only mild anxiety.
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What had Lucy achieved in her 5th session?
In the 5th session, she held a deflated balloon, then a slightly inflated balloon and eventually allowed a small balloon to be burst in the consulting room. At the end, she was able to pop a small balloon herself.
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What was introduced over the next 3 sessions?
Over the next 3 sessions, party poppers were introduced and Lucy went from not allowing them into the consulting room to being able to pop one if the therapist held it.
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What was also introduced and used outside?
Cap guns were introduced and used outside, but Lucy quickly agreed to one being fired in the consulting room.
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Describe the reduction in her fear thermometer at her 10th and final session
Balloons popping from 7/10 to 3/10. Party poppers from 9/10 to 3/10. Cap gun reduced from 8/10 to 5/10.
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What conclusion was drawn about systematic desensitisation?
Noise phobias in children are amenable to systematic desensitisation.
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What were the important factors?
Giving Lucy control to say when and where the noises were made and the use of inhibitors of the fear response including relaxation and a playful environment.
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Card 2

Front

Describe systematic desensitisation

Back

By pairing the phobic stimulus with something pleasant or relaxing.

Card 3

Front

What was the aim of McGrath's research?

Back

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Card 4

Front

Describe the methodology used in McGrath's study

Back

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Card 5

Front

Who was the participant in McGrath's research?

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