Phobias

• Subtypes of phobias:

  • simple
  • social
  • agoraphobia
• Behavioural symptoms of phobias:

  • avoidance
  • disruption of functioning
• Emotional symptoms of phobias:

  • persistent fear
  • fear from exposure to stimulus
• Cognitive symptoms of phobias:

  • recognition of exaggerated anxiety
• Two process model: phobias arise through classical conditioning or social learning theory, and maintained through operant conditioning
• Behavioural explanation: combined with biological elements to help understand phobias
• Positive of behavioural explanation:

  • treatments are effective
• Negative of behavioural explanation:

  • rejects evolution
• Flooding: immediate full exposure to stimulus, preventing avoidance. Leads to exhaustion in phobic response
• Systematic desensitisation: A form of exposure therapy that involves gradually exposing the patient to the feared stimulus. Allows progress in small steps by working up hierarchy of fears. Effects lasted 6 months later
• Cognitive behavioural therapy: most frequently used treatment
• Barlow - flooding is more effective but systematic desensistation is preferred as its less traumatic than flooding