BEHAVIOURIST TREATMENTS
Behaviourist treatments for phobia are based on the principle that new learning can replace old
learning.
RECIPROCAL INHIBITION - fear and relaxation cannot coexist in the
same body at the same time - they are opposing systems. This is
known as reciprocal inhibition.
A: Systematic Desensitisation B: Flooding
•How is it done? •How is it done?
In a single session, the participant is exposed to
their feared stimulus and experiences intense
1 - Relaxation techniques are taught, such as anxiety, which eventually subsides.
visualisation and breathing exercises. Unavoidable exposure: the patient must be unable to
escape the situation.
2 - A fear hierarchy is created, ranking phobic Extinction: the experience of anxiety peaking and
situations from least to most anxiety-inducing. then disappearing causes the phobia to be erased.
There is gradual exposure to the feared stimulus:
3 - Using their relaxation strategies, the patient •Why does it work?
works through the fear hierarchy, from the
bottom, trying to remain relaxed at each stage. •What are its pros and cons?
Keywords to include:
Classical conditioning
•Why does it work? Extinction
Reciprocal inhibition: relaxation and fear cannot be Informed consent
experienced at the same time.
Counter conditioning occurs: the patient learns a new
association that runs counter to the original one.
Behaviourist treatments for phobia are based on the principle that new learning can replace old
learning.
RECIPROCAL INHIBITION - fear and relaxation cannot coexist in the
same body at the same time - they are opposing systems. This is
known as reciprocal inhibition.
A: Systematic Desensitisation B: Flooding
•How is it done? •How is it done?
In a single session, the participant is exposed to
their feared stimulus and experiences intense
1 - Relaxation techniques are taught, such as anxiety, which eventually subsides.
visualisation and breathing exercises. Unavoidable exposure: the patient must be unable to
escape the situation.
2 - A fear hierarchy is created, ranking phobic Extinction: the experience of anxiety peaking and
situations from least to most anxiety-inducing. then disappearing causes the phobia to be erased.
There is gradual exposure to the feared stimulus:
3 - Using their relaxation strategies, the patient •Why does it work?
works through the fear hierarchy, from the
bottom, trying to remain relaxed at each stage. •What are its pros and cons?
Keywords to include:
Classical conditioning
•Why does it work? Extinction
Reciprocal inhibition: relaxation and fear cannot be Informed consent
experienced at the same time.
Counter conditioning occurs: the patient learns a new
association that runs counter to the original one.
