The behavioural approach to explaining and treating phobias: the two-process model, including classical and operant conditioning; systematic desensitisation, including relaxation and use of hierarchy; flooding.

What is the Two-Process Model?

• Proposed by Mowrer.
• Phobias acquired through classical conditioning.
• Phobias maintained through operant conditioning.

What is Classical Conditioning in Phobias?

• Learning through association.
• Neutral stimulus paired with frightening stimulus until fear response learned.

What is a Neutral Stimulus (NS)?

• Stimulus that initially produces no fear response.
• Example: white rat before conditioning.

What is an Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)?

• Stimulus that naturally produces fear automatically.
• Example: loud noise.

What is an Unconditioned Response (UCR)?

• Automatic fear response caused naturally by UCS.
• Example: fear caused by loud noise.

What is a Conditioned Stimulus (CS)?

• Previously neutral stimulus that triggers fear after association formed.
• Example: white rat after conditioning.

What is a Conditioned Response (CR)?

• Learned fear response to conditioned stimulus.
• Example: fear of white rat.

Little Albert Study — Procedure

• Watson and Rayner paired white rat with loud noise.
• Little Albert eventually feared white rat.
• Fear generalised to similar white furry objects.

Little Albert Study — Findings

• Phobias can be learned through association.
• Fear can generalise to similar stimuli.

What is Operant Conditioning in Phobias?

• Phobias maintained through reinforcement of avoidance behaviour.

What is Positive Reinforcement?

• Adding something pleasant to increase behaviour.
• Example: child receives sweets for homework.

What is Negative Reinforcement?

• Removing something unpleasant to increase behaviour.
• In phobias, avoiding feared object removes anxiety and strengthens avoidance behaviour.

What is Systematic Desensitisation (SD)?

• Behavioural therapy gradually reducing phobic anxiety.

What is Counterconditioning?

• Fear response replaced with relaxation response.

What is Reciprocal Inhibition?

• Impossible to feel fear and relaxation at same time.

What Happens in Relaxation Training?

• Patient taught relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises or meditation.

What is an Anxiety Hierarchy?

• Ranked list of feared situations from least to most frightening.

What Happens During Gradual Exposure in SD?

• Patient exposed step-by-step to feared stimulus while remaining relaxed.

Gilroy et al. — Aim

• Investigated effectiveness of systematic desensitisation for spider phobia.

Gilroy et al. — Procedure

• Compared SD group with control group.
• Measured fear levels before and after treatment.

Gilroy et al. — Findings

• SD group showed reduced fear of spiders.
• Improvements remained after follow-up months later.
• Supports effectiveness of SD.

Systematic Desensitisation Evaluation — Effective Treatment

• Gilroy et al. found SD reduced phobic symptoms long-term.

Systematic Desensitisation Evaluation — Suitable for Many Patients

• Less traumatic than flooding.
• Better tolerated by patients.

Systematic Desensitisation Evaluation — Time Consuming

• Requires multiple sessions and gradual exposure.

Systematic Desensitisation Evaluation — Less Effective for Evolutionary Phobias

• Some phobias may have biological basis and be harder to treat.

What is Flooding?

• Immediate exposure to feared stimulus at highest anxiety level.

What is Extinction in Flooding?

• Person remains exposed until anxiety decreases.
• Learns feared outcome does not occur.

Flooding Evaluation — Cost Effective

• Often works quickly.
• Requires fewer sessions.

Flooding Evaluation — Effective Treatment

• Immediate exposure can rapidly reduce fear.

Flooding Evaluation — Highly Distressing

• Extremely frightening for patients.
• Can cause high anxiety during treatment.

Flooding Evaluation — Patients May Refuse Treatment

• Many patients refuse or drop out due to distress.
• Limits effectiveness in practice.