systematic desensitisation

• The behaviourist approach to phobias says that phobias are established through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning
• There are two behavioural treatments for phobias, systematic desensitisation and flooding. They try to replace a persons phobia with relaxation
• Systematic desensitisation - uses counter conditioning to unlearn the maladaptive response to a situation or object, by eliciting another response ( relaxation )
• Three components to systematic desensitisation:

  Fear hierarchy

  Relaxation training

  Reciprocal inhibition
• Fear hierarchy - therapist and client work together to rank phobic situation from least to most terrifying, for example looking at a picture of a dog is the least scary, stroking a dog is the most scary
• After creating a fear hierarchy, the individual is taught relaxation techniques, such as breathing techniques and progressive muscle relaxation strategies
• Reciprocal inhibition - the patient is exposed to their phobic stimulus at the same time as using their relaxation techniques. Two emotional states cannot exist at the same time. This means that the relaxation should overtake the fear. The patient starts at the bottom of the fear hierarchy and works their way up.
• AO3. A strength of systematic desensitisation comes from research evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of this treatment for phobias. McGrath found that 75 % of patients of phobias were successfully treated using systematic desensitisation. This was particularly true when using techniques where the patient came into direct contact with the feared stimulus rather than simply imagining it. This shows that it is effective when treating specific phobias.
• AO3. There is research evidence for systematic desensitisation. Gilroy examined 42 patients with arachnophobia. Each one was created using the 45 minute systematic desensitisation techniques. When examined 3 and 33 months later, the systematic desensitisation group was less fearful than a control group. This provides further support for systematic desensitisation.
• AO3. Systematic desensitisation is not effective in treating all phobias. Patients with phobias which have not developed through a personal experience, such as a fear of snakes, are not effectively treated through systematic desensitisation. Some psychologists believe that certain phobias have an evolutionary survival benefit and are not the result of learning. This means that SD is ineffective in treating evolutionary phobias with an innate bias
• AO3. Systematic desensitisation is often favoured as a treatment for phobias in comparison to flooding, as it is more ethical. In comparison to flooding treatment for phobias many patients report a preference as it does not cause the same levels of stress as flooding. it is considered to be a more appropriate treatment for individuals with learning difficulties or anxiety disorders.