Systematic Desensitisation

Question 1

What is the aim of SD?

Answer 1

• Treat phobias by replacing the fear response to phobic stimuli.
• This is achieved using the principles of classical conditioning, where fear is learnt via association.
• Aims to gradually break down and replace the fear response, this is counter-conditioning.

Question 2

Main components of SD?

Answer 2

1. Trained in relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises.
2. Therapist and client create anxiety hierarchy. Rank experiences with phobic stimuli from least to most anxiety-inducing.
3. Gradually work through hierarchy, can include both in vitro (imagined) and in vivo (real) experiences. Utilise relaxation techniques. Relaxation and anxiety are incompatible- reciprocal inhibition.
4. Move through stages at clients pace - graduated exposure. After completion of therapy should generalise relaxation techniques to real world scenarios. No fear as response has been replaced.

Question 3

Evaluate effectiveness of SD strengths

Answer 3

• Supporting research. Rothbaum used flight simulator. 93% agreed to test flight. Improvement maintained 6 months later. Treatment effective in reducing and replacing fear response.
• McGrath 9 year old girl with noise phobia. Fear thermometer rated fear 1-10. Balloons popping 7-3, party poppers 9-3.

Question 4

Evaluate effectiveness of SD weaknesses

Answer 4

• Not suitable for all kinds of fears e.g. ancient fears that are inherited. Phobias of things that we are meant to be scared of, that threaten our survival (dark). SD not effective for all phobias, only those we have learnt.
• Doesn’t treat cause of phobia. Psyhcodynamic argues phobias developed by projection. Little Hans fear of horses actually caused by fear of father due to the oedipus complex. Feared father due to rivalry over mother and displaced onto horses. Question effectiveness of SD bc not tackling cause means fear will not be removed and could easily reoccurr.

Question 5

Evaluate ethics of SD all strengths

Answer 5

• More ethical than other therapies. E.g. more suitable for children than drugs as drugs could cause side effects they don’t understand and may struggle to keep up drug regimen. SD has no known side effects that could harm children and allows own pace.
• More ethical than flooding. Flooding takes client to highest level of fear immediately - very distressing. SD is gradual and clients controls pace. Anxiety is reduced in an ethical way.
• Anxiety during therapy can be justified. No more anxiety than if faced with phobia in normal circumstances and anxiety is replaced with relaxation which is beneficial. Doesn’t cause unnecessary anxiety.

Question 6

Link SD to Behaviourist assumptions

Answer 6

Blank slate - born blank so without phobias. Phobias are shaped by experiences with environment which can also be manipulated to unlearn the fear response.

Behaviour learnt through conditioning - phobias can be unlearn using classical conditioning via association. SD enables phobic stimuli to be associated with relaxation instead of fear. Relaxation conditioned response.