Behavioural explanation of treating phobias

systematic desensitisation

•A behavioural therapy designed to gradually reduce phobic anxiety through the principle of  classical conditioning. They learn a new response (to relax!) to the phobic stimulus – counterconditioning

•3 processes:

1)The anxiety hierarchy

2)Relaxation

3)Exposure

(reciprocal inhibition)

1.The client and therapist work together to develop a 

fear hierarchy, where they rank the phobic  situation 

from least to most terrifying. 

2.The client is taught relaxation techniques, 

such as breathing techniques, progressive muscle 

relaxation strategies, or mental imagery techniques.  

3. The final component of systematic 

desensitisation involves exposing the patient to their 

phobic situation,  while relaxed. 

flooding

•This involves exposing phobic patients to their phobic stimulus but without a gradual build-up in an anxiety hierarchy.

•Flooding involves immediate exposure to a very frightening situation.

•No relaxation techniques or step by step build up.

•Individual is exposed repeatedly and in an intensive way with their phobia. One session can last two to three hours and sometimes only one session is needed to cure a phobia.

•Individual has their senses flooded with thoughts, images and actual experiences of the object of their phobia.

•Flooding stops phobic responses very quickly

•Without the option for avoidance behaviour, the patient quickly learns that the phobic stimulus is harmless – this process is called extinction

•A learned response is extinguished when the conditioned stimulus (e.g. a dog) is encountered without the unconditioned stimulus (e.g. being bitten)

•The result is that the conditioned stimulus no longer produces the conditioned response (fear)

Biological Principle: Someone can only experience an alarm reaction for a certain length of time and then would have to subside.

It is an unpleasant experience so it is important that patients five fully informed consent to this traumatic procedure and they are fully prepared before the flooding session.

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