I have given a separate heading to flooding to make sure it is clear that you have to study two treatments for phobias. One must be SD and the other can be of your choice so long as it is a behavioural therapy.

There was information about flooding in the SD PowerPoint and in amongst the others SD materials. However to help you out…

4 x AO1 Key Features

• Also based on classical conditioning and the principle that extinction should occur if feared object is confronted in absence of UCS
• No fear hierarchy; straight in deep end with most feared object/situation
• No relaxation strategies required, fight or flight response cannot be maintained indefinitely and eventually body will return to a state of calm (maybe too exhausted to remain panicked any longer)
• Exposure does not have to be in vivo, it can also be in vitro (implosion therapy) and stimulus augmentation to the point of stimulus saturation.
• Could also mention forced reality testing
• Also Flooding can involve participant modelling (so links with social learning theory).

Supporting study: Ost (1989): Data Response Question OST (1989)

Ost1989 Original paper is also useful reading to get more detail on for your AO1 regarding what flooding actually involves. The paper also contains many excellent points which can be used as general evaluation of the therapy.

Once you have studied the method section you should also be able to come up with some weaknesses of the study which can be used as competing arguments in order to demonstrate why flooding may not be suitable for everyone.

What practical and ethical issues could you foresee with this therapy? See if you can come up with a strength and a weakness relating to ethics and a strength and a weakness that relates to the practicalities of flooding.

Essay template: flooding essay template

Assessment Questions

SAQs

1. Eloise has phobia of insects. She refuses to sit on the grass when going to the park with friends and the thought of a country walk or camping trips is just unbearable. Describe how a therapist might use a behavioural treatment other than systematic desensitisation  to help Eloise to overcome her phobia. (5)
2. Explain two practical issues relating to the use of the treatment you described above. (4)
3. Explain one ethical issue with the use of the treatment you described above.(2)
4. Explain two strengths of the treatment you described above. (4)
5. Explain two weaknesses of the treatment you described above. (4)

ERQs

1. Context/Applied: Eloise has phobia of insects. She refuses to sit on the grass when going to the park with Friends and the thought of a country walk or camping trips is just unbearable. Discuss one behavioural treatment other than systematic desensitisation that could be used as a treatment for Eloise. (8)
2. Straight: Evaluate one behavioural treatment other than systematic desensitisation as a treatment for phobias. (8)