Practise Edexcel Psychology questions on systematic desensitisation, using fear hierarchies, relaxation and gradual exposure to evaluate phobia treatment.
Earl has a phobia of needles and injections. His phobia developed after he had been to the dentist and had an injection that caused him severe pain. If Earl sees a needle on the television, he must look away as it makes him feel sick. Earl once fainted at the doctors' surgery because he saw his daughter having an injection.
Earl has to travel to another country for his work and needs to have some injections to be able to enter the country. Earl has decided to try systematic desensitisation as a treatment for his phobia of needles.
Discuss systematic desensitisation as a treatment for Earl's phobia of needles.
You must make reference to the context in your answer.
SECTION C BEGINS ON THE NEXT PAGE.
AO1 (4 marks), AO2 (4 marks)
AO1
- Systematic desensitisation aims to associate the feeling of calm
with the phobic object to get rid of the fear, as a feeling of calm
and fear cannot exist at the same time.
- The therapist works with the client to create a hierarchy of fear
where the client creates a list of situations that trigger their
phobia from the least scary to the scariest.
- The client is taught relaxation techniques such as deep breathing
or imagining a calm, safe place.
- Starting at the least fearful situation the client moves up the
hierarchy of fear, using the relaxation techniques learnt so they
are totally relaxed at one stage before moving up to the next
stage.
AO2
- Earl's therapist will aim to make Earl feel calm around needles so
that he can have the injections that will enable him to work in
another country.
- Earl will create a hierarchy of fear, with seeing a needle on the
television as the least scary situation and having an injection as
the scariest.
- Earl may be taught how to breathe in deeply for the count of three,
hold it for three and breathe out for three to use when he sees
needles, as this will relax his body.
- Earl will use the relaxation techniques when he sees a needle on
the television and will not see a needle in real life until he is totally
relaxed at this stage.
Look for other reasonable marking points.
(8)
\begin{tabular}[t]{|l|l|l|}
\hline Level
Mark
Descriptor
\begin{tabular[t]{l}
AO1 (4 marks), AO2 (4 marks)
Candidates must demonstrate an equal emphasis between knowledge and understanding vs application in their answer.
\end{tabular}}
0
No rewardable material
Level 1
1-2
Marks
\begin{tabular}[t]{l}
Demonstrates isolated elements of knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Provides little or no reference to relevant evidence from the context (scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures). (AO2)
\end{tabular}
Level 2
3-4
Marks
\begin{tabular}[t]{l}
Demonstrates mostly accurate knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Discussion is partially developed, but is imbalanced or superficial occasionally supported through the application of relevant evidence from the context (scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures). (AO2)
\end{tabular}
Level 3
5-6
Marks
Demonstrates accurate knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Arguments developed using mostly coherent chains of reasoning.
Candidates will demonstrate a grasp of competing arguments but
discussion may be imbalanced or contain superficial material
supported by applying relevant evidence from the context
(scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures (AO2)
Level 4
7-8
Marks
\begin{tabular}[t]{l}
Demonstrates accurate and thorough knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Displays a well-developed and logical balanced discussion, containing logical chains of reasoning. Demonstrates a thorough awareness of competing arguments supported throughout by sustained application of relevant evidence from the context (scientific ideas, processes, techniques or procedures). (AO2)
\end{tabular}
Section C
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