Behaviourist approach to explaining and treating phobias

Which of these are behavioural therapies for phobias?

• rational emotive behavioural therapy

• systematic desensitization

• cognitive behavioural therapy

• flooding

Which of these is not a process involved in systematic desensitization?

• formulation of an anxiety hierarchy

• intense exposure to phobic stimulus/i

• relaxation to create reciprocal inhibition

• eased exposure to phobic stimulus/i

what does the behaviourist approach to phobias fail to account for?

• cognitive factors involved in phobias

• a patient's upbringing

• the role of classical conditioning in the formation of phobias

• the role of operant conditioning in the maintenance of phobias

what may be considered a strength of systematic desensitisation?

• often takes months to complete a course, the patient has to make a commitment

• as it is less traumatic than flooding there are low dropout and refusal rates

• not greatly cost effective

• the prolonged intense exposure to the phobic stimulus results in 'extinction'

what is the principle behind the 'two process model' as proposed by Mowrer (1947)

• classical conditioning maintains a phobia

• operant conditioning creates a phobia

• classical and operant conditioning work in unison to create and maintain a phobia respectively

• classical and operant conditioning cancel each other out to treat a phobia

As a child, Kai got trapped in a lift and now has a phobia of lifts. Which of the following statements are true?

• Being trapped in the lift was the unconditioned stimulus

• The lift was initially the neutral stimulus

• The lift was the unconditioned stimulus

• The lift became the conditioned stimulus

• Being trapped in the lift was initially the neutral stimulus

Phobias are maintained through which type of reinforcement?

• Positive reinforcement

• Negative reinforcement

According to behaviourists, what acts as a negative reinforcement for phobias?

• Avoiding the phobic stimulus/situation

• Engaging in compulsive behaviours

• Engaging in panic behaviours such as screaming

What case study provides supporting evidence for the behavioural approach to explaining phobias?

• The case study of Little Hans

• The case study of Little Albert

• The case study of Clive Wearing

• The case study of patient KF

One issue with the behaviourist approach to explaining phobias is that it focuses solely on the __________ side of the nature-nurture debate.

• Nurture

• Nature