Learning Objectives

1. Learning Objectives • To be able to apply evaluative skills to essays on anxiety disorders What makes effective A02 points?

2. Starter • A02 component of an essay on the psychodynamic explanation of phobias: • Freud’s theory of phobias comes from case studies. What is wrong with this A02 point? How would you improve it?

3. Starter • A02 component of an essay on the psychodynamic explanation of phobias using PEE: • A negative of the psychodynamic explanation of phobias is that Freud’s theory comes from case studies. The case studies which Freud used were limited in number and therefore cannot be generalised to the wider population.

4. Starter POINT • A02 component of an essay on the psychodynamic explanation of phobias using PEE: • A negative of the psychodynamic explanation of phobias is that Freud’s theory comes from case studies. The case studies which Freud used were limited in number and therefore cannot be generalised to the wider population. EVIDENCE EXPLAIN

5. Station 1: Jan 09 Describe how systematic desensitisation might be used to treat a specific phobia such as a phobia of spiders. Evaluate the use of systematic desensitisation to treat phobias. (10 marks) • [AO1 = 5 AO2 = 5] • AO1 Up to 5 marks for description of systematic desensitisation. • Programme includes relaxation training for patient, description of construction of hierarchy of anxieties with example, gradual exposure from least to most frightening stage with relaxation replacing fear as the response. Pairing of feared object with pleasant stimulus. Can be carried out in vivo or imagined. Credit description of relevant evidence up to 2 marks. • AO2 Up to 5 marks for discussion of the effectiveness of systematic desensitisation. • Application of knowledge of the programme to specific phobia. Analysis of how programme works – based on premise that fear and relaxation cannot exist together – they are competing emotions. • Evaluation of the programme including support from studies and comparison with the other treatments such as VRET – cheaper, easier and equally effective. More effective than psychodynamic therapy and more ethical with explanation why. Limitations of the therapy – cannot be applied to generalised social phobia. Works well in therapeutic situation but may not always generalise to everyday life situations. Credit use of relevant evidence up to 2 marks

6. Station 1: Jan 09 Describe how systematic desensitisation might be used to treat a specific phobia such as a phobia of spiders. Evaluate the use of systematic desensitisation to treat phobias. (10 marks) • AO1 Up to 5 marks for description of systematic desensitisation. • Programme includes relaxation training for patient, description of construction of hierarchy of anxieties with example, gradual exposure from least to most frightening stage with relaxation replacing fear as the response. Pairing of feared object with pleasant stimulus. Can be carried out in vivo or imagined. Credit description of relevant evidence up to 2 marks. • INCOMPLETE A02 POINTS these are in note form only, it is up to you to structure them to show POINT-EVIDENCE-EXPLAIN • VRET is equally as effective and it is cheaper, easier and more convenient • SD works well in the therapeutic situation but may not generalise to a patient’s everyday life • SD is quick and cost-effective unlike psychodynamic therapies which are costly and take many years to complete and are ineffective • SD works when a particular phobic object or situation can be identified, it is not suitable for generalised social phobia

7. Station 2: Jun 09 Describe and evaluate the behavioural explanation for obsessive-compulsive disorder.(10 marks) • [AO1 = 5, AO2 = 5] • AO1 Up to 5 marks for knowledge and understanding of the behavioural explanation of OCD. • Answers should include reference to principles of conditioning. Initial fear might arise out of association of unpleasant event with neutral stimulus, eg dirt. Initial fear is coincidentally relieved by performance of the compulsive behaviour, eg hand-washing. Repeated relief following performance of hand-washing behaviour acts as positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement serves to establish and maintain the behaviour which becomes OCD. Negative reinforcement – avoiding anxiety by carrying out the behaviour/ritual. Credit description of evidence up to 1 mark. • AO2 Up to 5 marks for discussion and evaluation of the behavioural explanation. • Answers are likely to refer to the way in which behavioural explanations, relying on coincidental first performance of the compulsive behaviour, are not really an adequate explanation of how OCD arises, but a better explanation of how they are maintained. However, they have led to successful behavioural treatments. Credit reference to other more plausible explanations where linked to the discussion, psychodynamic - childhood fixation, offers explanation of how OCD arises. Credit use of evidence showing a reduction in anxiety levels after performance of ritual compulsion, eg Hodgson and Rachman (1980), hand-washing and Roper (1973) - checking rituals.

8. Station 2: Jun 09 Describe and evaluate the behavioural explanation for obsessive-compulsive disorder.(10 marks) • [AO1 = 5, AO2 = 5] • AO1 Up to 5 marks for knowledge and understanding of the behavioural explanation of OCD. • Answers should include reference to principles of conditioning. Initial fear might arise out of association of unpleasant event with neutral stimulus, eg dirt. Initial fear is coincidentally relieved by performance of the compulsive behaviour, eg hand-washing. Repeated relief following performance of hand-washing behaviour acts as positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement serves to establish and maintain the behaviour which becomes OCD. Negative reinforcement – avoiding anxiety by carrying out the behaviour/ritual. Credit description of evidence up to 1 mark. • INCOMPLETE A02 POINTS these are in note form only, it is up to you to structure them to show POINT-EVIDENCE-EXPLAIN • Behavioural explanations explain how OCD is maintained but does not provide us with an adequate explanation of how OCD arises • This explanation has led to a successful behavioural treatment • The psychodynamic approach might offer a more plausible discussion of how OCD arises • Hodgson and Rachman provide evidence for this explanation

9. Station 3: Describe and evaluate two explanations for phobias (10 marks) • ***note this question has not been asked under the new specification so there is no mark scheme which exists from the exam board, if I had to guess this would be my guess!!**** • A01: Up to 5 marks for knowledge and understanding of the behavioural and psychodynamic explanations of phobias. • Behavioural explanations state that phobias are learnt from classical conditioning, credit description of process as applied to phobias • Mowrer’s two process theory • Psychodynamic explanations state that phobias occur when id impulses are repressed and anxiety is displaced onto another object or situation e.g. Fear of snakes represents displaced fear of male genitalia • Credit description of evidence up to 2 marks • Likely studies for evidence: Little Hans displacement of fear of his father onto horses, Little Albert conditioned through behaviourism to be afraid of white rats • A02 Up to 5 marks for discussion and evaluation of behavioural and psychodynamic explanations of phobias • Psychodynamic explanation for Little Hans’ phobia for horses is complex and the behaviourists can provide a simpler explanation • Psychodynamic explanation draws on case studies limited in number, subject to interpretation • Behaviourist explanation has support from empirical evidence in Little Albert and animal studies • Research by behaviourists may lack ecological validity • Di Nardo (1988) found more than 60% of those with a fear of dogs could relate this back to a frightening earlier incident with a dog, however, this does not account for all of those who feared dogs in the sample • Fears which develop gradually and which cannot be traced back to a specific incident cannot be explained by the behaviourists e.g. Social phobia • Fears can occur when there has been no direct contact with the fear stimulus

10. Station 3: Describe and evaluate two explanations for phobias (10 marks) • ***note this question has not been asked under the new specification so there is no mark scheme which exists from the exam board, if I had to guess this would be my guess!!**** • A01: Up to 5 marks for knowledge and understanding of the behavioural and psychodynamic explanations of phobias. • Behavioural explanations state that phobias are learnt from classical conditioning, credit description of process as applied to phobias • Mowrer’s two process theory • Psychodynamic explanations state that phobias occur when id impulses are repressed and anxiety is displaced onto another object or situation e.g. Fear of snakes represents displaced fear of male genitalia • Credit description of evidence up to 2 marks • Likely studies for evidence: Little Hans displacement of fear of his father onto horses, Little Albert conditioned through behaviourism to be afraid of white rats • INCOMPLETE A02 POINTS these are in note form only, it is up to you to structure them to show POINT-EVIDENCE-EXPLAIN • Psychodynamic explanation for Little Hans’ phobia for horses is complex and the behaviourists can provide a simpler explanation • Psychodynamic explanation draws on case studies limited in number, subject to interpretation whereas Behaviourist explanation has support from empirical evidence in Little Albert and animal studies • Research by behaviourists may lack ecological validity • Di Nardo (1988) found more than 60% of those with a fear of dogs could relate this back to a frightening earlier incident with a dog, however, this does not account for all of those who feared dogs in the sample

11. Plenary • Think of one ‘top tip’ which you will take from this as part of your revision and when you go into that exam to write whichever essay is thrown at you!