Learning Approach
What type of learning involves forming associations between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus?
What is classical conditioning?
How old was the participant in the study?
9 years old
What diagnostic manual was used to confirm the boy’s phobia?
What is the DSM-IV?
This therapy successfully change the boy’s observable behavior?
What is behavioral exposure therapy?
What type of research method was used?
What is Clinical case study?
In this case, what emotion was primarily conditioned to the buttons?
What is disgust?
What triggered the onset of the boy’s button phobia?
Accidentally knocking over a bowl of buttons in class, causing distress.
How many total button-related scenarios were included in the hierarchy?
What is 11 scenarios?
What happened to his distress ratings during behavioral exposure?
They increased significantly.
How does the longitudinal design strengthen the study?
It tracks changes over time using multiple data sources.
Which learning process involves behavior being shaped by rewards or consequences?
What is operant conditioning?
What is the specific term for a phobia of buttons?
What is Koumpounophobia?
How many behavioral exposure sessions were completed?
What is 4?
After imagery exposure, what happened to the distress rating for imagining buttons falling all over him (distress level ratings)?
They decreased from 8-5-3
Name one weakness related to generalizability.
The sample was only one participan
What form of classical conditioning results in a stimulus becoming negatively evaluated without expecting danger?
What is evaluative learning?
What type of sample was used in the study?
What is opportunity sampling?
What was the purpose of imagery exposure therapy?
What was to treat internal disgust responses tied to mental images, sensations, and imagined scenarios involving buttons?
What was the long-term outcome at the 6–12 month follow-up?
Minimal distress; no longer met criteria for specific phobia; able to wear buttons.
What ethical concern arises due to the unusual nature of the phobia?
Risk of indirect identification and breach of confidentiality and privacy.
What reaction in the boy persisted despite completing all behavioral exposure tasks?
What is disgust?
What the main emotional driver in this boy's button phobia looked like?
What is disgust, unpleasant feelings, unpleasant smell and repulsiveness towrds buttons?
Why did therapists begin imagery exposure after behavioral exposure?
Because behavioral exposure increased distress and did not reduce disgust, requiring a therapy targeting evaluative
What key conclusion did researchers reach about treating phobias with disgust components?
Imagery exposure effectively reduces disgust-based evaluations and has long-term benefits.
Why might demand characteristics have affected the study’s validity?
The boy may have altered behavior or fear ratings to please the therapists and his mother.