Behavioural Approach to Treating Phobias

What is systematic desensitisation?

• Behavioural therapy based on counterconditioning.

• Replaces fear response with relaxation.

• Uses reciprocal inhibition → cannot be relaxed and afraid simultaneously.

Process of systematic desensitisation

• 1. Anxiety hierarchy

  • Patient + therapist rank situations from least → most frightening.

• 2. Relaxation training

  • Breathing techniques, meditation, muscle relaxation.

• 3. Gradual exposure

  • Patient works through hierarchy while staying relaxed.

  • Move up only when previous stage is completed without anxiety.

Strength of systematic desensitisation

• Strong research evidence.

• McGrath et al. (1990): 75% success rate treating phobias using SD.

• In vivo exposure (real life) especially effective.

• Shows SD is reliable and effective for specific phobias.

Limitation of systematic desensitisation

• Not effective for all phobias.

• Phobias with evolutionary origins (e.g., snakes, heights) do not respond as well.

• These may be innate, not learned → SD relies on learned associations.

• Therefore SD has limited effectiveness for evolutionary/biological phobias.

What is flooding?

• Immediate, intense exposure to the most feared stimulus.

• No gradual build-up.

• Prevents avoidance behaviour.

• Phobic anxiety decreases over time through extinction.

• Person realises the stimulus is not harmful.

AO3: Strength of flooding

• Cost-effective.

• Ougrin (2011): Flooding is as effective as SD and CBT, but faster.

• Requires fewer sessions → cheaper for health services, quicker relief for patients.

Limitation of flooding

• Highly traumatic for patients.

• Can provoke intense anxiety.

• Wolpe (1969): Case where patient required hospitalisation due to distress.

• Many do not complete treatment → reduces effectiveness.

• Can waste time and money if patients drop out.