Dubi et al. (2008): toddlers aged 15-20 months show fear + avoidance bhvs to
“fear-relevant” +”irrelevant” objects after observing -ve reactions from their mothers
=maternal modelling impacted on children’s fear + avoidance bhv
COGNITIVE + PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH also may explain phobias
No assumption of internal / biological cause for bhv: ignore mental / physical
causes
SYSTEMATIC DESENSITISATION
Reciprocal inhibition: can’t be anxious and relaxed at same time
Phobias = learned response to stimulus: can unlearn fear by relaxing when in
contact with phobic object
Counter-conditioning: associate fear with smth relaxing / pleasant = learning new
CR (e.g. relaxing, laughing)
Therapist + client agree on target aim
Client taught relaxation techniques then exposed to phobic object until they are
desensitised to it
In vitro: imagine to be in frightening situations
In vivo: exposed to real object
Anxiety hierarchy: each step more fear-provoking than the last
E.g. from brief + remote encounters (photograph, at distance, fo 1sec) to longer,
closer + more immediate encounters
29
, By patient:
- knows best what's anxious;
- relaxing to have control of how (fast) therapy proceeds
- Voluntary : can stop at any point + go next step when ready
- Biofeedback: take pulse and measure breathing for their anxiety
Relaxation training: client taught relaxation techniques
Gradual exposure: phobic object slowly introduced according to scenarios agreed
in hierarchy
At each stage of exposure: relaxation techniques used by client; then move to more
intense exposure
Counter-conditioning: associate fear with smth relaxing / pleasant = learning new
CR (e.g. relaxing, laughing) and extinguishing anxiety reaction
1. Participant modelling: role model relaxed + calm with feared object
2. Covert modelling: imagine someone encountering feared object (for severe
phobias that can’t bear to watch someone encounter feared object)
Gilroy et al. (2003): 42 patients with arachnophobia in 3 45-min sessions of sd
Phobia’s strength measured by questionnaire + observing patient with spider
Control group taught relaxation techniques without gradual exposure to spider
After 6 months: treatment group less fearful
=sd reduces power of phobia with long-lasting effects
Strengths
30
“fear-relevant” +”irrelevant” objects after observing -ve reactions from their mothers
=maternal modelling impacted on children’s fear + avoidance bhv
COGNITIVE + PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH also may explain phobias
No assumption of internal / biological cause for bhv: ignore mental / physical
causes
SYSTEMATIC DESENSITISATION
Reciprocal inhibition: can’t be anxious and relaxed at same time
Phobias = learned response to stimulus: can unlearn fear by relaxing when in
contact with phobic object
Counter-conditioning: associate fear with smth relaxing / pleasant = learning new
CR (e.g. relaxing, laughing)
Therapist + client agree on target aim
Client taught relaxation techniques then exposed to phobic object until they are
desensitised to it
In vitro: imagine to be in frightening situations
In vivo: exposed to real object
Anxiety hierarchy: each step more fear-provoking than the last
E.g. from brief + remote encounters (photograph, at distance, fo 1sec) to longer,
closer + more immediate encounters
29
, By patient:
- knows best what's anxious;
- relaxing to have control of how (fast) therapy proceeds
- Voluntary : can stop at any point + go next step when ready
- Biofeedback: take pulse and measure breathing for their anxiety
Relaxation training: client taught relaxation techniques
Gradual exposure: phobic object slowly introduced according to scenarios agreed
in hierarchy
At each stage of exposure: relaxation techniques used by client; then move to more
intense exposure
Counter-conditioning: associate fear with smth relaxing / pleasant = learning new
CR (e.g. relaxing, laughing) and extinguishing anxiety reaction
1. Participant modelling: role model relaxed + calm with feared object
2. Covert modelling: imagine someone encountering feared object (for severe
phobias that can’t bear to watch someone encounter feared object)
Gilroy et al. (2003): 42 patients with arachnophobia in 3 45-min sessions of sd
Phobia’s strength measured by questionnaire + observing patient with spider
Control group taught relaxation techniques without gradual exposure to spider
After 6 months: treatment group less fearful
=sd reduces power of phobia with long-lasting effects
Strengths
30
