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Phobias (DSM 5 Categories- Phobia is an irrational fear of an object or…

- - - - Effective- Research using case control studies show it to be effective. For example Gilroy et al (2003) used exposure as their IV and proved that with exposure was more effective.
      - Suitable for diverse range of patients- Accompanies lots of people including those with learning difficulties
      - Acceptable- Patients prefer it, as it doesn't cause the same amount of trauma as flooding. Has lower refusal rates and attrition rates (patents giving up).
  - - - It is cost effective- highly effective and quicker than alternatives.
      - Less effective for some forms of phobia- Good for specific phobias, but not for social ones, as they don't have cognitive aspects. Would benefit more from thinking therapies to tackle thought processing.
      - Traumatic- Patients are often unwilling to see it through due to high levels of anxiety. Bad as time and money can be wasted.
- - - - Good explanatory power- Went beyond Little Albert experiment, as it explained the maintenance of phobias over time. This explains why patients need to be exposed to phobic stimulus during therapy. Once the patients stops avoiding, then it'll lower anxiety brought.
      - An incomplete explanations of phobias- Bounton points out that evolutionary factors have an important role in phobias. EX: we easily acquire phobias that have been threatening to our ancestors like snakes. It is adaptive to acquire such phobias. Seligman called this biological preparedness. Don't acquire fear of new technologies such as cars, so this supports further more.
      - Alternative explanation for avoidance- Avoidance can lead to feelings of safety. EX Agoraphobia. Explains why people don't leave their houses. Suggest avoidance isn't down to desirability, but rather to reduce anxiety.
      - Phobias that don't follow trauma- They can appear from experience. However fears can be acquired without experience and for no particular reason.
      - Cognitive aspects- Ignores the cognitive factors.