Psychopathology
Outline and evaluate the explanation of phobias
AO1
- The two-process model
- Classical conditioning is an association forms between the neutral
stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus until the neutral stimulus
becomes a conditioned response
- Learning to associate something we have no fear of with something
that tiggers a fear response
- Little Albert (Watson and Rayner) showed no fear response to white
furry objects
- Whenever Little Albert was introduced to a neutral stimulus Watson
would make a loud noise
- Watson repeated this to develop and association
- Little Albert also showed generalisation
- Operant condition is how we maintain phobias through negative
reinforcement = the avoidance or removal of an unpleasant
situation or stimulus
- Reduction in fear and anxiety negatively reinforces the avoidance
behaviour and the phobia is maintained
AO3
STRENGTH – REAL WORLD APPLICATION
- Exposure therapies – systematic desensitisation
- Idea that phobias are maintained by avoidance of phobic stimulus
- Phobias benefit from being exposed to the phobic stimulus to
remove avoidance behaviour
- No longer associated with fear and anxiety
- Shows the value of the two – process model in identifying a means
of treating phobias
LIMITATION – INCOMPLETE EXPLANATION
- We acquire phobias of things dangerous in our evolutionary past
such as snakes and spider
- Cars kill around 1.2 million a year and yet we rarely find phobias to
cars
- Biological preparedness suggests that we are innately prepared to
fear some things more than others
- Only 7% of spider phobias are due to traumatic experiences
- There is more to acquiring phobias than conditioning
STRENGTH – LINK BETWEEN BAD EXPERINECES AND PHOBIAS
- Counterpoint
- Little Albert study
- Evidence comes from a study by Ad De Jongh et al who found that
73% of people with a fear of dental treatment had experienced a
traumatic event.
, - Confirms the association between stimulus and an unconditioned
response leading to a phobia
Outline and evaluate the treatment of phobias
AO1
- Systematic desensitisation is when a client is taught a new
association to phobic stimulus
- Reciprocal inhibition – conflicting emotions cannot happen at the
same time
- Relaxation – breathing techniques
- Anxiety hierarchy – least to most frightening
- Exposure
- Flooding is immediate exposure
- Without the option of avoidance, the patient learns that the phobic
object is harmless
- Patient exhausted = relaxed association = extinction of fear
AO3
LIMITATION – SD NOT GENERALISED BEYOND CLINICAL SETTINGS
- If phobic object is presented into the patient without warning +
without therapist = return to original state
- May not have long term benefits
STRENGTH – PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES
- The main alternatives of SD are not suitable for those with learning
disabilities as they struggle with cognitive therapy that requires
complex rational thought
- They may feel confused and distressed by the traumatic experience
of flooding
- SD is often the most appropriate for people with learning disabilities
who have phobias
LIMITATION – APPEARS LESS EFFECTIVE FOR COMPLEX (SOCIAL) PHOBIAS
- Social phobias also have cognitive aspects – anxiety and unpleasant
thoughts about a situation
- Flooding is immediate exposure creating a traumatic experience
and does not take the time to address irrational thinking
- Therefore, cognitive therapy is more effective
STENGTH – FLOODING IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE
- NHS – time, money, and resources
- Flooding is one session opposed to SD which is up to 10
- Achieves the same results
- More people living ‘normal’ lives – going to work = helping the
economy
- More people can be treated at the same cost with flooding
Outline and evaluate the explanation of depression
Outline and evaluate the explanation of phobias
AO1
- The two-process model
- Classical conditioning is an association forms between the neutral
stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus until the neutral stimulus
becomes a conditioned response
- Learning to associate something we have no fear of with something
that tiggers a fear response
- Little Albert (Watson and Rayner) showed no fear response to white
furry objects
- Whenever Little Albert was introduced to a neutral stimulus Watson
would make a loud noise
- Watson repeated this to develop and association
- Little Albert also showed generalisation
- Operant condition is how we maintain phobias through negative
reinforcement = the avoidance or removal of an unpleasant
situation or stimulus
- Reduction in fear and anxiety negatively reinforces the avoidance
behaviour and the phobia is maintained
AO3
STRENGTH – REAL WORLD APPLICATION
- Exposure therapies – systematic desensitisation
- Idea that phobias are maintained by avoidance of phobic stimulus
- Phobias benefit from being exposed to the phobic stimulus to
remove avoidance behaviour
- No longer associated with fear and anxiety
- Shows the value of the two – process model in identifying a means
of treating phobias
LIMITATION – INCOMPLETE EXPLANATION
- We acquire phobias of things dangerous in our evolutionary past
such as snakes and spider
- Cars kill around 1.2 million a year and yet we rarely find phobias to
cars
- Biological preparedness suggests that we are innately prepared to
fear some things more than others
- Only 7% of spider phobias are due to traumatic experiences
- There is more to acquiring phobias than conditioning
STRENGTH – LINK BETWEEN BAD EXPERINECES AND PHOBIAS
- Counterpoint
- Little Albert study
- Evidence comes from a study by Ad De Jongh et al who found that
73% of people with a fear of dental treatment had experienced a
traumatic event.
, - Confirms the association between stimulus and an unconditioned
response leading to a phobia
Outline and evaluate the treatment of phobias
AO1
- Systematic desensitisation is when a client is taught a new
association to phobic stimulus
- Reciprocal inhibition – conflicting emotions cannot happen at the
same time
- Relaxation – breathing techniques
- Anxiety hierarchy – least to most frightening
- Exposure
- Flooding is immediate exposure
- Without the option of avoidance, the patient learns that the phobic
object is harmless
- Patient exhausted = relaxed association = extinction of fear
AO3
LIMITATION – SD NOT GENERALISED BEYOND CLINICAL SETTINGS
- If phobic object is presented into the patient without warning +
without therapist = return to original state
- May not have long term benefits
STRENGTH – PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES
- The main alternatives of SD are not suitable for those with learning
disabilities as they struggle with cognitive therapy that requires
complex rational thought
- They may feel confused and distressed by the traumatic experience
of flooding
- SD is often the most appropriate for people with learning disabilities
who have phobias
LIMITATION – APPEARS LESS EFFECTIVE FOR COMPLEX (SOCIAL) PHOBIAS
- Social phobias also have cognitive aspects – anxiety and unpleasant
thoughts about a situation
- Flooding is immediate exposure creating a traumatic experience
and does not take the time to address irrational thinking
- Therefore, cognitive therapy is more effective
STENGTH – FLOODING IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE
- NHS – time, money, and resources
- Flooding is one session opposed to SD which is up to 10
- Achieves the same results
- More people living ‘normal’ lives – going to work = helping the
economy
- More people can be treated at the same cost with flooding
Outline and evaluate the explanation of depression
