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PSYCHOPATHOLOGY- explaining and treating phobias using the behavioural…
PSYCHOPATHOLOGY- explaining and treating phobias using the behavioural approach
the behavioural approach to explaining phobias
phobic behaviour is learned from interacting with the enviroment (experience)
2 process model- phobias aquired through classical conditioning (learning by association) and maintained through operant conditioning (learning from concequences/ reinforcement)
classical conditioning acquisition of phobia-
phobic object starts as NS, causes no response (NR)
UCS (like a bee sting pain) causes an UCR (automatic, doesnt need to be learned)
an association is formed when NS is paired with UCS. object becomes a CS which produces a CR
phobias can be generalised so that the CR can also be experienced in the presence of stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus
operant conditioning, maintenance of phobia-
OC- learning through the concequences of our actions.
someone with a phobia will try to avoid the phobic object
the avoidance behaviour will lead to a reduction in anxiety, which is a pleasant sensation. this reinforcement strengthens the phobia which makes the person more likely to avoid the phobic object in the future
evaluating the behavioural approach to explaining phobias
POSITIVE- Little Albert experiment.
child introduced to rat, no fear response
paired rat with loud clanging sensation
phobic response formed and the rat produced a fear response
this demonstrated phobias can be accquired through association
he also showed generalisation, feared bunnies and fluffy blankets
theories of acquisition and maintenance have been effectively applied to counter-conditioning treatments - systematic desensitization and flooding. these are effective treatments which suggests that the underpinning theories are valid
NEGATIVES-
DiNado showed that 56% of people with a dog phobia had been bitten by a dog but 66% of people with no dog phobia had also been bitten by a dog.
Mendes and Clark found only 2% of children with a fear of water could recall a negative experience of water and 56% parents said the phobia was there on the very first encounter
this suggests the behaviourist approach doesnt fully explain all phobias
humans also dont usually display phobias to objects that could easily cause a a pain response like knives but phobias of spiders are more common. maybe these phobias can be better explained by an evolutionary theory, as these are dangers that our ancestors faced- those with natural and instinctual fears would have been more likely to reproduce (higher survival rates) which suggests phobias are hereditory
the behaviourist approach to treating phobias
Reciprocal inhibition- fear and relaxation are two opposite emotions so they cant be felt at the same time. if someone can hold phobic object without fear then they have been successfully counter conditioned
systematic desensitisation
1) therapist teaches relaxation techniques
2) client creates anxiety hierarchy- list of feared situations with phobic object from least to most feared
3) client exposed at each level of anxiety hierarchy. they must relax at each stage and only move to next stage when fully relaxed
4) when they can hold the phobic object without fear, the association is extinct and a new association with relaxation is formed
flooding
attempts to counter condition with full and immediate exposure to maximum level of phobic stimulus
expected to initially cause immediate panic response and the therapist has to stop them escaping the situation
eventually the client will become exhausted and calm down in presence of phobic object
if client ends treatment before this is experienced then anxiety will reduce when object is removed so the phobia is reinforced
evaluating the behaviourist approach to treating phobias
POSITIVE- client controls SD which makes it a more pleasurable experience as they limit anxiety
NEGATIVE- this means it can be timely and therefore expensive
NEGATIVE- flooding isnt appropriate for everyone due to its stressfu nature so the elderly and those with heart conditions cant use this method of treatment . phobia is reinforced if flooding fails
NEGATIVE- effectiveness of both may be limited to a controlled environment and may not translate to real world experiences
NEGATIVE- more effective in treating specific phobias rather then social phobias because its hard to stimulate social interactions with unfamiliar people in a therapists office
NEGATIVE- treatments like benzodiazepines and antidepressants have been found effective in the treatment of phobias. they effectively reduce anxiety and alleviate phobic responses and are quicker and cheaper than behaviourist treatments.
POSITIVE- drug treatments have a temporary nature and have potential adverse effects so people usually prefer behaviourist treatments
POSITIVE- the principles of SD have been applied to VR exposure therapy. 83% of Ps treated with VR exposure to spiders had a significantb improvement compared to 0% in control group. this demonstrates the principles of SD are valid and the use of VR allows a wide range of phobias to be treated