phobias

• what is a phobia ?

  • intense irrational fear of an object or situation
• what are the behavioural characteristics of phobias ?

  • avoidance
  • panic
• what are emotional characteristics of a phobia ?

  • anxiety
  • fear
• what are the cognitive characteristics of phobias ?

  • selective attention
  • irrational beliefs
• what is the two process model ?

  • phobias are acquired through classical conditioning
  • then maintained through operant conditioning
• what is the evaluation of the two process model ?

  • research evidence - Little Albert
  • application - systematic desensitization
  • ignores evolution - fear of dark etc.
• what is flooding ?

  • maximum exposure to most fearful situation
  • prevents avoidance
  • until fear is decreased
• what is the evaluation of flooding ?

  • cost effective - quick
  • highly traumatic - too stressful
  • less effective for social phobias
• what is systematic desensitization ?

  • create a fear hierarchy of scenarios
  • teach patient relaxation techniques
  • gradually expose to fear hierarchy
• what is the evaluation of systematic desensitization ?

  • very effective - 60-90% success
  • not traumatic
  • not cost effective - many sessions