The behavioural approach to treating phobias

• AO1 - classical conditioning (SD)

  • Systematic desensitisation is a behaviour therapy aimed to gradually reduce phobic anxiety through counterconditioning.
  • A new response to the phobic stimulus instead (relaxation).
  • Reciprocal inhibition means its not possible to afraid and relaxed at the same time, so one emotions prevents the other.
• AO1 - anxiety hierarchy (SD)

  • The first process of SD is the anxiety hierarchy.
  • The client and therapist put together a list of fearful stimuli in order from the least to most frightening.
• AO1 - relaxation (SD)

  • The second process of SD is relaxation.
  • The therapist teaches the client relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation.
  • In bigger situations, relaxation can be achieved by drugs.
• AO1 - exposure (SD)

  • The third process of SD is exposure.
  • The client is exposed to the phobic stimulus while in a relaxed state.
  • Takes place across several sessions, starting at the bottom of the anxiety hierarchy.
  • When the client can stay relaxed in the presence of the lower levels of the phobic stimulus they move up the hierarchy.
  • Treatment is successful when the client can stay relaxed in situations high on the anxiety hierarchy.
• AO1 - immediate exposure to the phobic stimulus (flooding)

  • Flooding involves exposing a person with a phobia to their phobic stimulus without a gradual build-up.
  • Flooding sessions are typically longer than SD sessions.
  • Sometimes only one long session is needed to cure a phobia.
• AO1 - extinction (flooding)

  • Without the option of avoidance behaviour, the person quickly learns that the phobic stimulus is harmless, through the exhaustion of their fear response.
  • This is called extinction.
• AO1 - ethical safeguards (flooding)

  Flooding isn’t unethical but it’s an unpleasant experience so it‘s important that clients give informed consent and be fully prepared and know what to expect.
• AO3 - ✔️SD is evidence of effectiveness


  • Researchers followed up 42 people who had SD for spider phobia.
  • The SD group were less fearful than a control group treated by relaxation without exposure.
  • In a recent review, it was concluded that SD is effective for specific phobia, social phobia, and agoraphobia.
  • Means that SD like likely to be helpful for people with phobias.
• AO3 - ✔️SD is that its useful to treat people with learning difficulties


  • Main alternatives to SD are not suitable for people with learning difficulties, e.g. cognitive therapies as they require a high level of rational thought and flooding as it‘s distressing.
  • SD doesn’t require understanding or engagement on a cognitive level and isn’t a traumatic experience.
  • Means that SD is often the most appropriate treatment for people with learning difficulties who have phobias.
• AO3 - ✔️flooding is that it‘s cost effective


  • A therapy is described as cost effective if it‘s clinically effective and not expensive.
  • Flooding can work in as little as one session, compared to ten sessions of SD to achieve the same result.
  • Even longer sessions of flooding makes it more cost effective than alternatives.
  • Means that more people can be treated at the same cost with flooding than with SD or other therapies.
• AO3 - ✖️flooding is traumatic 


  • Researchers found that both participants and therapists rated flooding as more stressful than SD.
  • This raises ethical issues for psychologists of knowingly causing stress to their clients, although this is not a serious issue if they give informed consent.
  • Furthermore, the traumatic nature of flooding means that the dropout rates are higher than SD.
  • Suggests that therapists may avoid using this treatment.