Behavioural approach treating phobias

• Phobias

  Irrational fears
• Relaxation

  Reducing anxiety and tension
• Systematic desensitisation

  1. Anxiety hierarchy

  2. Relaxation

  3. Exposure
• Systematic desensitisation

  • Gradually reduces phobic anxiety through classical conditioning
  • Pairs phobic stimulus with relaxation instead of anxiety
• Flooding

  1. Immediate exposure to very frightening situation

  2. No gradual build-up
• Flooding

  • Stops phobic responses very quickly
  • Client learns phobic stimulus is harmless
  • Extinction of learned response
• Flooding is not unethical per se but it is important that clients give fully informed consent and are fully prepared before the flooding session