behavioural treatments

• phobias can be removed by counter conditioning. this involvess learning a new response to the feared stimulus
• what is systemtic desensitisation?

  it works on the principle of classical conditioning and involves a therapist and client working through a 3 step process to make a new association between the stimulus, and the fear response
• what is step 1 of systematic desensitisation?

  -> client and therapist create an anxiety hierarchy

  -> this ranges from the least fearful situation with the phobia stimulus to the most fearful
• what is step 2 of system desensitiation?

  -> the therapist teaches the client relaxation techniques. this is to relieve anxiety and physically calm them
• what is step 3 of systematic desensitisation?

  -> the client works through each stage of the anxiety hierarchy, at each stage they use the relaxation and breathing techniques
• systematic desensitisation works by replacing the fear response to the stimulus with a relaxation sensation and hence, creates a more positive association
• evaluation of systematic desensitisation

  + highly effective

  - can rely on the imagination of the individual

  - individual may substitute one symptom for another
• what is modelling

  -> works on the principles of the social learning theory

  -> involves a role model 'modelling' positive behaviour towards the fear object or situation

  -> the model is positively reinforced for this behaviour in the hope that the client should be motivated to imitate the behaviour
• evaluate modelling

  -> its not very effective as it works best with children
• what is flooding?

  -> this directly exposes the client to the objects or situations they fear

  -> in theory, flooding the client repeatedly to their fear will allow them to see that there is no basis for their fear
• evaluate flooding

  -> its very intense and therefore unethical because it makes them uncomfortable. this often makes it a last resort.

  -> however, it can be helpful, people can lose their phobia after only 3 flooding sessions
• what is implosion therapy?

  -> a variation of flooding

  -> rather than physically facing their fear they are asked to imagine it

  -> they are asked to create and experience a fear situation

  -> it aims to show them that their fears are groundless

  -> after several sessions, some realise that their fears are groundless and they implode
• evaluate implosion therapy

  + more ethical than flooding

  - less effective than flooding