Phobias: explaining and treating (behavioural approach)

• What are phobias considered in mental health?

  Interesting mental health conditions
• Why is it difficult to imagine a phobia of buttons?

  Because most people don't have it
• What approach will be discussed regarding phobias?

  Behaviorist approach
• What are the two main concepts of behaviorism relevant to phobias?

  Classical and operant conditioning
• What does the two process model suggest about phobias?

  Acquired through classical conditioning, maintained through reinforcement
• What is classical conditioning?

  Learning through association
• How are phobias initially acquired according to the two process model?

  Through classical conditioning
• What is a neutral stimulus in classical conditioning?

  An object that initially causes no response
• What is an unconditioned stimulus?

  A stimulus that produces an unconditioned response
• What happens when a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus?

  An association is formed
• What is a conditioned stimulus?

  A previously neutral stimulus that now produces a response
• What is a conditioned response?

  A learned response to a conditioned stimulus
• How can phobias be generalized?

  Conditioned fear response occurs with similar stimuli
• How are phobias maintained according to the two process model?

  Through operant conditioning
• What is the role of avoidance in maintaining phobias?

  Avoidance reduces anxiety, reinforcing the phobia
• What scenario illustrates the acquisition of a phobia?

  Laura's fear of bees after being stung
• What does Laura's scenario demonstrate about phobias?

  Phobias can be learned through classical conditioning
• How does Laura's avoidance of bees affect her life?

  It impacts her social life and functioning
• What classic research is associated with phobias?

  Little Albert study by Watson and Rayner
• What did Watson demonstrate in the Little Albert study?

  Phobias can be acquired through association
• What did Little Albert develop a fear of?

  Rats and similar objects
• What did Dinardo's research suggest about dog phobias?

  Conditioning events were common in both groups
• What did Mendes and Clark find about children's water phobias?

  Most children couldn't recall negative experiences
• What is a limitation of the behaviorist approach to phobias?

  It doesn't explain all phobias
• Why are some phobias more common than others?

  Evolutionary factors may influence common fears
• What are effective therapies developed from the behaviorist approach?

  Flooding and systematic desensitization
• What principle do flooding and systematic desensitization share?

  Phobias are learned associations
• What is reciprocal inhibition?

  Fear and relaxation are opposite emotions
• What is the main difference between flooding and systematic desensitization?

  How they expose the client to fear
• What does systematic desensitization involve?

  Creating an anxiety hierarchy and gradual exposure
• What is the final stage of systematic desensitization?

  Holding the phobic object without fear
• What does flooding aim to achieve?

  Immediate and full exposure to the phobic stimulus
• Why is it important that clients cannot escape during flooding?

  To prevent reinforcement of the phobia
• What is a limitation of flooding therapy?

  It may not generalize to real-world situations
• Why might drugs be considered an alternative treatment for phobias?

  They lower anxiety and reduce phobic response
• What is a drawback of using drugs for phobias?

  Temporary solution with potential side effects
• What recent development has been used in treating phobias?

  Virtual reality exposure therapy
• What did Garcia Palacios find about VR exposure therapy?

  83% showed significant improvement
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  Exclusive resources and tutorial videos
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  To provide educational videos for qualifications