Study

• Psych being Investigated

  classical conditioning: uncond response linked to prev neutral stimulus to create a learning association

  
  

  phobias can be learned/unlearned

  -expectancy learning: prev neutral/non-threatning obj becomes associated w threatning outcome = expects negative outcome

  
  

  -*evaluative learning: forms assoc betw prev neutral stimulus and negative emotion, now negative evaluation (disgust) rather fear

  
  

  suggests disgust/fear appropriate target emotion for treatment

  op cond: acquiring phobias from enforcing avoidance
• Background

  how phobias can be treated using application of different theories of learning (op cond reinforce desirable beh)

  -compared to evaluative learning as form of classical cond reduce feelings of disgust)

  
  

  -Hepburn and Page (1999) treating patients disgust and fear

  -De Jong et al (1997) children who had spider phobia
• Aim

  examine role of classical conditioning in realtion to fear and avoidance of a particular stimulus
• Sample

  9 year old Hispanic Am boy

  -met criteria of having spec phobia (buttons) symptoms for 4 years
• Research Method

  case study (involved 1 par studied in depth)

  -data collected using self-report measures

  -mother/boy interviewed about onset of phobia, subsequent beh

  -observed through treatment ses, results measured on nine-point scale 'feelings thermometer'
• Procedure

  interviewed determine trauma/abuse explain boys phobia

  -begun age 5, knocked bowl infront of class (distressing) adversion increased interfering w normal functioning

  understand spec feelings towards buttons before: created hierarchy of feared stimului each item provoking inc fear

  -most difficult items were small clear plastic buttons (8/9)
• Contingency management

  form pos reinforcement therapy (in vivo)

  -rewarded by mother for showing less fear, handling buttons

  -lasted 20-30 mins; obs how approached buttons (# handled inc)

  -measured subj rating of distress feelings thermometer
• Image exposure therapy

  main focus

  -interviews revealed found buttons touching body disgusting/smelled unpleasant

  -basis for disgust imagery exercises, visualization techniques

  
  

  disgust-related imagery exposures incorporated w cognitive self-control strategies

  -imagine buttons falling on him, consider looked felt smelled + talk about how imagery exp made him feel

  -prog from larger to smaller buttons (hierarchy)

  
  

  each ses, self report measures taken of boys subj ratings distress feelings thermometer
• Results contingency management (pos rein)

  successful completion of all exposure tasks

  -obs approaching buttons more positively

  *subj ratings of distress increased sig betw ses 2/3

  -despite beh towards fearful stimuli improving, feelings disgust, fear, anxiety increased as result (worsened)
• Results Image exposure therapy

  successful reducing boys rating of distress

  -buttons falling went from 8 (most fearful) to 5 midway, 3 complete

  6 month, 12 month follow ups

  -minimal distress about buttons

  -no longer met diagnostic criteria for spec phobia of buttons

  -no longer affecting normal functioning, can wear small clear plastic buttons on school uniform
• Conclusion

  -pos reinforcement therapy successful in changing observable behavior

  -imagery exposure therapy successful in reducing feelings of fear and disgust

  
  

  -emotions and cognitions relating disgust important when learning new responses to phobic stimuli

  -imagery exposure can have long-term effect on reducing distress associated with spec phobias, tackles neg evaluation
• Strengths

  valid: studied over period of time w different methods of data collection

  standardized measured: feelings thermometer

  quantitative(compare reac)/(qualitative(backg info) data used: interview understand reasons underlying
• Weaknesses

  case study: small sample, hard to generalize to larger pop

  -not representative of large/general pop w spec phobia

  
  

  subjective: created own hierarchy of fear/disgust, personal ratings

  -highly individual of own feelings (aim made measures appropriate)

  
  

  higher risk of bias: built relationship, objective compromise validity

  -researcher bias select/report on particular participant,(pos outcome)

  -dem char more obvious (affect ratings)
• Ethics

  consent provided

  -aim improve quality of life, minimize psych distress

  -boys anonymity was preserved, allowed to maintain privacy