Behavioural Treatments for Phobias Application Essay: Example Answer Video for A Level SAM 2, Paper 1, Q5 (16 Marks)

In this video, we look at how to write a model answer to the following question:

A mother and father are discussing their 10-year-old son’s reluctance to go to a friend’s birthday party at the local swimming pool.

‘I really think he might have a fear of water’, says his mum. ‘I thought I might just sit with him in the car at the swimming pool car park until he calms down. Then we might go into the viewing area and watch the others. Perhaps then he might be ready to go in the pool’. ‘Nonsense’, replies his dad. ‘The only way to deal with fear is to face it; we should literally throw him in at the deep end!’

Discuss two behavioural treatments for phobias. Refer to the conversation above in your answer. [16 marks]