Psychology 102
September 24, 2012
Contrasting Perspectives on the Treatment of Fears:
1. Psychologists consider a phobia to be an irrational fear, meaning it is a fear reaction that is out of proportion to the reality of the danger. This differentiates itself from a normal fear reaction because the apprehension felt towards something alarming is to a real danger.
2. According to the Freudian concept of psychoanalysis, phobias are believed to originate from childhood traumas. This perspective also supports the idea that phobias may be replacing other hidden fear or anger that the individual is reluctant to face. Fortunately, these anxieties can be treated. Such techniques in which to do so include those from the …show more content…
Of the five psychological viewpoints this psychoanalytic approach is consistent with that of the psychodynamic perspective. This perspective, as well as the psychoanalytic approach, argues that our behavior is a result of the unconscious mind and childhood experiences.
4. Another method of treatment Joseph Wolpe has refined since it was first suggested is, the systematic desensitization behavioral technique. This behavioral tactic is considerably different from the psychoanalytic view. This is because it is not focused on the unconscious causes of the problem or on the inhibited troubles. Instead, it concentrated on the idea that since you have learned this unproductive behavior, being the phobia, you must now unlearn it.
5. The psychological perspective in which Wolpe’s method of treatment is consistent with is, the behaviorist perspective. This perspective and Wolpe’s approach are both concerned with how environmental factors affect apparent behavior and use conditioning as a …show more content…
Wolpe would then introduce me to a form of progressive muscle relaxation that involves the tensing and relaxing of different muscle groups. These muscle groups can include that of the arms, hands, face, back, stomach, legs and so on. If I can come for this treatment earlier, hypnosis would have also been used on me. Although, since in most cases hypnosis has been shown to be unnecessary when obtaining full relaxation, this was not required. I would participate in the practice of this relaxation ritual until I could place myself into this state whenever I