Phobias: Explaining and Treating (Behavioural Approach)

• What are phobias considered in mental health?

  Interesting mental health conditions
• Why is it difficult to imagine phobias for those without them?

  Because the range of objects is wide
• What approach will be discussed regarding phobias?

  Behaviorist approach
• What two concepts from behaviorism will be covered?

  Classical and operant conditioning
• What is the two process model in relation to phobias?

  Phobias are acquired and maintained
• How are phobias initially acquired according to the two process model?

  Through classical conditioning
• What does classical conditioning involve in the context of phobias?

  Learning through association
• What is a neutral stimulus in phobia acquisition?

  A phobic object that causes no response
• What is an unconditioned stimulus in phobia acquisition?

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

  An association is formed
• What does a conditioned stimulus produce?

  A conditioned response of fear
• How can phobias be generalized?

  To stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus
• How are phobias maintained according to the two process model?

  Through operant conditioning
• What does avoidance of a phobic object lead to?

  Reduction in anxiety
• How does avoidance reinforce a phobia?

  It strengthens the likelihood of future avoidance
• What is the two process model of phobias?

  • Phobias are acquired through classical conditioning
  • Phobias are maintained through operant conditioning
• What scenario illustrates the acquisition of a phobia?

  Laura's fear of bees after being stung
• What does Laura's experience with bees demonstrate?

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

  It impacts her social life negatively
• What classic research demonstrates phobia acquisition?

  Watson and Rayner's Little Albert study
• What was the outcome of the Little Albert study?

  Phobias can be acquired through association
• What did the research by Dinardo reveal about dog phobias?

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

  Only 2% recalled negative experiences
• What do the findings about phobias suggest about the behaviorist approach?

  It is not a full explanation for all phobias
• Why are some phobias more common than others?

  Evolutionary explanations may apply
• What are the therapies developed from the behaviorist approach?

  • Flooding
  • Systematic desensitization
• What principle do flooding and systematic desensitization rely on?

  Phobias are learned associations
• What is reciprocal inhibition in therapy?

  Fear and relaxation are opposite emotions
• What is the main goal of both therapies?

  Replace fear with relaxation
• How does systematic desensitization begin?

  With relaxation techniques
• What is an anxiety hierarchy?

  A list of feared situations with the phobic object
• What is the final stage of systematic desensitization?

  Holding the phobic object without fear
• How does flooding therapy work?

  Immediate exposure to the phobic stimulus
• What is expected to happen during flooding therapy?

  Extreme panic response from the client
• Why is it important that the client cannot escape during flooding?

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

  It may reinforce the phobia if escaped
• How do systematic desensitization and flooding compare?

  • Systematic desensitization is client-controlled
  • Flooding is quicker but less preferred
  • Both may not generalize to real-world situations
• What are alternative treatments for phobias?

  Drugs like benzodiazepines and antidepressants
• What is a benefit of drug treatments for phobias?

  They are quicker and cost-effective
• What is a drawback of drug treatments?

  Temporary nature and side effects