Aim, Background, Research Method
Sample and Methodology
Procedures
Results and Conclusions
Strengths and Weaknesses
100

What was the aim of the study?

  • To investigate the causes of a button phobia in a child
  • To investigate whether exposure therapy could reduce the feelings of disgust and distress associated with the buttons.


100

Who was the participant?

9 year old Hispanic American boy

100

What button had the lowest rating?

Large denim jean buttons

100
How did the follow-up go after 6 and 12 months?

The boy was followed up 6 and 12 months after treatment and at both times he did not meet the DSM-IV criteria for a specific phobia anymore. He could wear clear plastic buttons on his school uniform shirt.

100

One strength in Ethics and One weakness

Strength:

The boy and the mother gave informed consent to participate and publish the results.

No physical harm

Weakness:

Psychological distress

200

What type of experiment is this? And where was it conducted?

Clinical Case Study it was conducted at Florida International Study

200

How did his phobia start?

Started showing symptoms of button phobia 4 years prior (at age 5), when he knocked over a bowl of buttons in front of his class and teacher.

200

What buttons had the highest rating?

Small plastic buttons colored and clear

200

What is the main conclusion?

Emotions and cognitions relating to disgust are important in the development and maintenance of a phobia

200

One weakness in Generalizability

Weakness:

Low generalizability, only studies one individual, with one specific phobia

Not representative of the general population.

300

What was the Research Design? IV and DV?

Case Study Approach

  • IV: exposure to type of button       
  • DV: level of distress


300

What type of sample is it?

Opportunity Sample

300

Explain the procedures

  • The boy was asked to rate 11 different scenarios that included buttons. The subjective ratings were used as a Feelings Thermometer.
  • The boy had 4 sessions of behavioral exposure to the buttons using the hierarchy. Then 7 sessions were planned to investigate his disgust imagery and cognitions. He got to know what he found disgusting about buttons and, researchers used self-control and cognitive strategies with him to change these thoughts.
300

What is the conclusion based on the imagery exposure?

Imagery exposure has a long-term effect on reducing distress relating to specific phobias as it tackles negative evaluations.

300

One strength in Applicability and One weakness

Strength:

Imagery exposure therapy can be used to treat other phobias

Weakness:

May only work on this type of phobia

400

What was the psychology being investigated?

Role of Disgust in Phobias

Classical Conditioning


400

How was he diagnosed?

The DSM-IV (4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) was used to diagnose him with button phobia.

400

Explain the Positive reinforcement therapy

  • a behavioral therapy based on operant conditioning.
  • Using positive reinforcement principles, contingency management was applied.
  • The boy was rewarded for showing less fear and for handling the buttons. The mother provided positive reinforcement if the boy successfully completed the gradual exposure to buttons. Sessions lasted for about 30 minutes with the boy alone, and 20 minutes with the boy and his mother.
400

What are the results of the positive reinforcement therapy?

  • The boy was observed approaching the buttons more positively.
  • His objective ratings of distress increased between sessions 2 and 3. By session 4, the number of items on the hierarchy increased in dislike from the original scores.
  • Despite his behavior to the fearful stimuli improving, his feelings of disgust and fear increased by the end of the therapy. Findings were consistent with evaluated learning.
  • Overall, positive reinforcement therapy made the phobia worsen.
400

One strength in Validity and One weakness

Strength:

Participant was studied over an extended period

All data comes from the source

6- & 12-month check-up shows long-term effects of therapy

Qualitative and quantitative data

They got rid of his phobia

Weakness:

Subjective as boy created his own hierarchy of disgust

Low mundane realism

500

What is the background of the study?

Classical conditioning is learning through association. 2 stimuli (neutral and unconditioned) are linked together to produce a new learned response. Some psychologists believe that phobias can be learned and unlearned just like other behaviors. 

500

How were the results of the treatment measured?

  • The results of the treatment were measured using a 9-point scale (0-8) of disgust: ‘feelings thermometer’
  • 0 being ‘no discomfort’ and 8 being ‘extreme discomfort’
500

Explain the Imagery exposure therapy

  • Imagery exposure therapy was based on classical conditioning using the Vivo method.
  • An interview with the boy revealed that he found buttons touching his body disgusting and believed that buttons smelled unpleasant.
  • This formed the basis for disgust imagery exercises.
  • The boy was asked to imagine buttons falling on him, and consider how they looked, felt, and smelled.
  • Exposures progressed from images of larger to smaller buttons, in line with the boy's fear hierarchy.
500

What are the results of the imagery exposure therapy?

  • The therapy was successful in reducing his rating of distress.
  • For example, when he had to imagine buttons falling on him, prior to imagery therapy/cognitive restructuring, he rated the experience as 8 on a scale of 0 to 8.
  • This rating decreased to 5 midways through the session and was just 3 by the end of the session.
500

One strength in Reliability and One weakness.

Strength:

Standardization of ‘feelings thermometer’

Control of extraneous variables

Weakness:

The boy might not have been honest with the self-report (demand characteristics)

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