Explain one strength and one weakness of the flooding phobia treatment (4)

One strength is that it have proven to be effective. Wolpe (1973) found that when he placed a girl who was scared of cars in a car, she was distressed and fearful at first but eventually calmed down. Similarly, Mott (2013) looked at PTSD and found that 85% of symptoms were reduced after a session of flooding. Thus, it is effective and helps to reduce fears. One weakness is that it is unethical compared to systematic desensitisation as the individual has no control and cannot leave if they are too scared. They are put under immense distress and can be left with lasting effects of this distress. For example, Barrett (1969) gave a girl a session of flooding who was scared of snakes. She associated the snakes with closing her eyes and could never sleep again after the session as she saw snakes when her eyes were closed. Thus, it isn’t always effective and the unethical nature leaves participants distressed.