behaviorist treatment weakness

• Phobias May Return (Spontaneous Recovery) – Some individuals experience a return of their phobia after treatment, as the underlying cause of fear may not be addressed.

  Supporting Research: Craske et al. (2008) found that while exposure therapies (SD and flooding) reduce fear in the short term, some patients relapse over time, especially if they do not continue exposure to the feared stimulus.

   
• Requires Motivation and Commitment – For SD to work, the patient must actively engage with the treatment process, including creating and working through the fear hierarchy. If a patient lacks motivation, SD may be less effective. In contrast, some other treatments (e.g., medication) require less effort from the patient, making them more appealing in some cases.