Phobias: explaining and treating (behaviourist approach)

• What are phobias considered in mental health?

  Interesting mental health conditions
• Why is it difficult to imagine a phobia of buttons?

  Because one may not have that phobia
• What is the behaviorist approach to phobias?

  • Explains phobias through learned behavior
  • Involves classical and operant conditioning
  • Focuses on environmental interactions
• What are the two main types of conditioning discussed?

  Classical and operant conditioning
• What does the two process model suggest about phobias?

  Phobias are acquired through classical conditioning
• How are phobias maintained according to the two process model?

  Through operant conditioning and reinforcement
• What is acquisition in the context of phobias?

  Gaining phobias through classical conditioning
• What is a neutral stimulus in classical conditioning?

  A stimulus that initially causes no response
• What is an unconditioned stimulus?

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

  It becomes a conditioned stimulus
• What is generalization in the context of phobias?

  Experiencing fear from similar stimuli
• How does avoidance behavior reinforce phobias?

  It reduces anxiety, strengthening the phobia
• Describe Laura's phobia of bees using the two process model.

  • Acquired through classical conditioning
  • Stung by a bee, leading to fear
  • Avoids bees, reinforcing her phobia
• What does it mean for a phobia to impact daily life?

  It affects social interactions and functioning
• Who conducted the classic research on Little Albert?

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

  He developed a phobic response to rats
• What does generalization mean in Little Albert's case?

  Fear response to similar objects
• What did Dinardo's research suggest about dog phobias?

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

  Most children had no negative experiences
• What is a limitation of the behaviorist approach to phobias?

  It doesn't explain all phobias adequately
• Why are phobias of snakes and spiders common?

  They relate to evolutionary survival instincts
• What are effective therapies developed from the behaviorist approach?

  • Flooding
  • Systematic desensitization
  • Both aim to replace fear with relaxation
• What is the principle behind flooding therapy?

  Immediate exposure to the phobic stimulus
• What is the main goal of systematic desensitization?

  To replace fear with relaxation
• What is reciprocal inhibition in therapy?

  Fear and relaxation cannot coexist
• How does systematic desensitization begin?

  With relaxation techniques for the client
• 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
• What is the goal of flooding therapy?

  To exhaust the client’s fear response
• Why is it important that clients cannot escape during flooding?

  To prevent reinforcing the phobia
• Compare systematic desensitization and flooding.

  • Systematic desensitization: gradual exposure, client control
  • Flooding: immediate exposure, therapist control
  • Both aim to reduce phobic responses
• Why might flooding not be suitable for everyone?

  It can be risky for certain populations
• What is a limitation of both therapies in real-world application?

  Effects may not generalize outside therapy
• Why are drugs considered an alternative treatment for phobias?

  They lower anxiety and reduce phobic response
• What is a drawback of drug treatments for phobias?

  They are temporary and have side effects
• What did Garcia Palacios find about VR exposure therapy?

  83% showed significant improvement