Behaviourist Approach 2 Treating Phobias

• Flooding


  This is a form of behavioural therapy used to treat phobias and other anxiety disorders.

  The patient is first taught relaxation techniques such as focusing on breathing, taking slow, deep breaths, visualising a peaceful scene or progressive muscle relaxation.
• Flooding


  The patient is then immediately exposed to an extreme form of the threatening situation. The patient cannot make their usual avoidance responses as they are not given the right to withdraw
• Flooding


  To begin with, the person feels extremely anxious, but the fear response —As adrenaline levels naturally decrease, a new stimulus-response link can be learned between the feared stimulus and relaxation, and the patient overcomes their phobia. Therefore, the patient has learned to associate the phobic stimulus with a new response (relaxation). This is counterconditioning
• Flooding


  This is able to occur because of reciprocal inhibition; a patient cannot feel afraid and relaxed at the same time, meaning that one emotion
• Flooding


  •Flooding is not unethical as patients give fully informed consent about the procedure.•However, it is a very traumatic experience. Additionally, if patients exorcise their right to withdraw during the procedure, they can make their phobia worse.•Patients are normally given the choice of flooding or systematic desensitisation.
• —Counterconditioning


  = learning a new response. In flooding, counterconditioning occurs as a new response (relaxation instead of anxiety) to the phobic stimulus is learned.—
• —Reciprocal inhibition


  = the idea that you cannot feel afraid and relaxed at the same time, meaning that one emotion prevents the other.
• Systematic Desensitisation 


  It involves gradually exposing a person to something that causes extreme fear and panic, and teaches them to replace fear responses with relaxation responses.