Phobias

• Behaviourism suggests that phobias are learnt through classical conditioning and upheld through operant conditioning.
• The Two Process Model was invented by Orval Mowrer and proposed that phobias were learnt through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning.
• Process 1 of the Two Process Model:

  Initiation - phobia is acquired through association, where a neutral stimuli is turned into a conditioned stimuli with a conditioned response.
• Process 2 of the Two Process Model:

  Operant conditioning - negative reinforcement occurs as avoiding the feared stimuli causes the phobics fear to decrease. They will end up continuously avoiding the stimuli and never learning that it should not be feared.
• Diathesis stress model:

  Not everyone who is bitten by a dog develops a phobia of dogs (DiNardo 1988). This theory suggest we may inherit a genetic vulnerability to certain disorders but they will only manifest if triggered by a life event. Nature AND nurture.
• Sue et al 1994 suggests that people do learn fears though classical conditioning but often forget the inciting incident.
• The two process model ignore cognitive factors. The cognitive approach believes that phobias form through irrational thinking and can be combatted through CBT.
• Biological preparedness:

  • Seligman explained phobias through natural selection in 1970 and argued that there are certain things that humans are genetically programmed to be afraid of. (E.g spiders and snakes, which can be deadly to humans)
• Behavioural treatments for phobias include Flooding and Systematic Desensitisation.
• Systematic Desensitisation:

  1. Relaxation - The phobic is taught relaxation techniques so they can employ these when faced with their phobia.
  2. Anxiety Hierarchy - The phobic is asked to rate their fears on a scale from the least frightening situation to the most.
  3. Gradual exposure - The phobic is slowly exposed to their stimuli in order. They can only move onto the next level of the hierarchy when they are completely relaxed on the previous level
• Strengths of Systematic Desensitisation:

  • The main treatment for phobias include Systematic Desensitisation- is effective (McGrath found that 75% of people with phobias improved from this tr
  • Behavioural therapies require little cognitive effort
  • Doesn’t involve trauma like other methods
• Limitations of Systematic Desensitisation:

  • Individualised therapy - can be expensive
  • Not appropriate for all phobias (Ohman et al suggests that SD may not be as effective for fears that have an evolutionary component)
  • Ethical issues need to be taken into consideration (protection from harm)
• Flooding is the immediate exposure to the most feared stimuli and hopes to make the phobia extinct in one session.
• Clients are shown their feared stimuli while being taught in relaxation techniques in hopes they may relax in the presence of their stimuli and learn a new response.
• Counterconditioning - changing the response to a stimuli.
• A fear response has a time limit and the longer a person is exposed to a feared stimuli the more likely they will be able to relax in its presence.
• Reciprocal inhibition - the idea you cannot feel anxiety and relaxation at the same time.
• A flooding session can last 2-3 hours but the fear can be extinct within this one session.
• Strengths of Flooding:

  • Good effectiveness (Choy et al found that Flooding and SD were both effective but Flooding was more effective)
• Limitations of Flooding:

  • Less effective for some types of phobias (not as effective for social phobias / other complex phobias)
  • Individual differences - it may not be for everyone
  • Extreme therapy - not very ethical (protection from harm not met in BPS guidelines)