The behavioural approach focuses around the idea that the phobia is due to classical conditioning and therefore training the human body to react differently to it by either gradually replacing the behaviour or dismantling the behaviour (extinction).
Transclude of Classical-Conditioning-Phobias.excalidraw
Systematic Desensitisation (SD)
Systematic desensitisation aims to teach a patient to learn a more appropriate association, i.e., relaxation through classical conditioning by gradually reducing the phobic anxiety.
Counter-Conditioning
Systematic desensitisation utilises counter-conditioning due to the learning of a different response in order to reduce the phobic anxiety
This is because it is impossible to be both relaxed and afraid simultaneously, with one emotion blocking the other
Processes
It is composed of three processes:
- Anxiety hierarchy
- Relaxation
- Gradual exposure
Anxiety Hierarchy
This is a hierarchical list of situations composed by both the patient and therapist, each being related to the phobic stimulus which results in anxiety. This is ordered from lest to most frightening.
Relaxation
Therapists then teach the patient to relax as deeply as possible. This may be through meditation, imagination or drugs.
Gradual Exposure
The patient is then exposed to the phobic stimulus whilst in a relaxed state, taking place across multiple sessions. This starts from the bottom of the anxiety hierarchy to the top.
Treatment is successful when the patient can stay relaxed in situations high on the anxiety hierarchy.
Flooding
Flooding rather exposes the patient to the phobic stimulus without the gradual build-up in anxiety hierarchy, immediately exposing the patient to a very frightening situation after being put in a relaxed state.
It typically consists of one long session lasting 2 - 3 hours.
Process
The conditioned stimulus is encountered without the unconditioned stimulus which then leads to extinction.
Extinction is the patient learning that the phobic stimulus is harmless, breaking the association between the phobic stimulus.
Flooding requires informed consent to the actions taken.