Describe + evaluate the behavioural approach to treat phobia

• AO1- definition of phobia

  Phobias are anxiety disorders which involve extreme anxiety related to a phobias stimulus causing an avoidance of the stimulus
• AO1- systematic desensitisation

  gradual stage-based process that reverses the classical conditioning

  gradual exposure to the stimulus using an anxiety hierarchy and relaxation techniques helps unlearn conditioning

  They’re then conditioned to view the stimulus without fear
• AO1- flooding

  sudden and extreme exposure to the stimulus with no build up

  no relaxation techniques and in one session for a few hours

  the exposure is designed to extinguish the fear

  extinction of fear occurs as the patient can’t escape the stimulus so they just have to deal with it
• AO3- flooding is controversial

  can be traumatic for patient even though informed consent is given

  a study found both patients and therapists rated flooding as more stressful that systematic desensitisation

  lacks ethical validity
• AO3- flooding is cheap and quick

  flooding sessions are longer than SD but costs less as only one session occurs

  cost-effective which has a positive economic implication
• AO3- therapies can help treat children

  especially for those who lack insight to their emotions like disabled children. this makes it a more suitable form of treatment
• AO3- Systematic desensitisation is supported

  A study looked at 42 patients who had systematic desensitisation to treat a spider phobia over 3 45 minute sessions

  At 3 and 33 months they were less fearful compared to the control group

  Systematic desensitisation is effective