Systematic Desensitisation

AO1 – What it is (Description)

• Systematic desensitisation is a behavioural therapy used to treat phobias by gradually replacing the fear response with a relaxation response through counter-conditioning.

• It is based on the assumption that phobias are learned through classical conditioning and therefore can be unlearned through new associations.

• The therapy works through reciprocal inhibition, meaning anxiety and relaxation cannot occur at the same time, so relaxation replaces fear.

• The process involves three stages: relaxation training, creation of an anxiety hierarchy, and gradual exposure to the feared stimulus from least to most anxiety-provoking.

• Exposure can be in vitro (imagined) or in vivo (real-life) depending on the severity of the phobia and ethical considerations.

AO3 – Supporting Evidence (Capafons)

• Supporting evidence comes from Capafons et al., who studied 41 participants with a fear of flying, where those receiving systematic desensitisation showed around 90% reduction in anxiety, measured through both self-report and physiological measures such as heart rate.

• This supports the effectiveness of systematic desensitisation because improvements were significantly greater than the control group, suggesting the therapy directly caused the reduction in phobic responses.

AO3 – Critique of Evidence

• However, this evidence may lack generalisability because it focuses only on aerophobia, meaning the findings may not apply to all types of phobias, particularly more severe or complex ones.

• Additionally, the use of self-report measures may reduce validity due to social desirability bias, as participants may underreport their anxiety levels after treatment.

AO1 – Other Explanation

• An alternative explanation is the cognitive approach, which suggests that phobias are maintained by irrational beliefs and faulty thinking patterns rather than just learned associations.

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on challenging and restructuring these maladaptive thoughts, rather than simply replacing responses through conditioning.

AO3 – Critique of Other Explanation

However, behavioural therapies such as systematic desensitisation may be more effective for simple phobias, as they directly target observable behaviour rather than relying on insight into thoughts, which may be difficult for some individuals.

AO1 – Application

Systematic desensitisation has practical applications in treating real-life phobias such as fear of flying, spiders, or medical procedures, and is commonly used in clinical settings due to its structured and gradual approach.

AO3 – Application Evaluation

• This is a strength because the gradual nature of the therapy gives clients a sense of control, making it less distressing and more ethical compared to flooding, increasing the likelihood that patients will complete the treatment.

• However, it can be time-consuming, requiring multiple sessions over weeks, meaning it may not be as cost-effective or accessible as quicker treatments like flooding.