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psych unit 4 > 10A- contributing factors to the development of specific phobia > Flashcards

10A- contributing factors to the development of specific phobia Flashcards

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1
Q

specific phobia

A

a persistent, intense, irrational fear of a specific object or event

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2
Q

biological factor

A

a factor that relates to the physiological functioning of the body

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3
Q

gamma amino butyric acid GABA

A

the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, associated with anxiety, specific phobias and Parkinson’s disease

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4
Q

glutamate

A

the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, involved with learning and memory

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5
Q

dysfunctional GABA system

A

a failure to produce, release or receive the correct amount of gamma- aminobutyric acid

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6
Q

long term potentiation

A

the relatively permanent strengthening of synaptic connections as a result of repeated activation of a neural pathway

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7
Q

psychological factor

A

a factor that relates to the functioning of the brain and the mind, including cognitive and affective processes such as thought patterns and memory

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8
Q

behavioural model

A

phobias are learned through experience and may be developed, sustained or modified by environmental consequences such as rewards or punishments

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9
Q

classical conditioning

A

a simple form of learning that occurs through the repeated association between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response

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10
Q

precipitate

A

trigger the onset or exacerbation of a mental disorder

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11
Q

operant conditioning

A

a type of learning process in which the likelihood of a voluntary behaviour occurring is determined by its consequences

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12
Q

perpetuation

A

prolonging of the occurrence of a mental disorder and preventing recovery

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13
Q

negative reinforcement

A

when a behaviour is followed by the removal of an undesirable stimulus, increasing the likelihood of the behaviour occurring again

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14
Q

avoidance behaviour

A

actions a person takes to escape from difficult thoughts and feelings

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15
Q

cognitive model

A

a model that describes how people’s perceptions of situations influence their emotional and behavioural reactions

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16
Q

cognitive bias

A

the tendency to think in a way that involves errors of judgement and faulty decision- making

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17
Q

memory bias

A

distorted thinking that either enhances or impairs the recall of a memory or alters its content

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18
Q

catastrophic thinking

A

a cognitive bias that involves overestimating and exaggerating the worst possible outcomes to situations even though they are unlikely to occur

positive feedback loop

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19
Q

social factor

A

a factor that relates to the social components of a person’s environment

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20
Q

specific environmental trigger

A

an object, situation or circumstance that probably caused a direct, negative traumatic experience associated with extreme fear or discomfort, which then acts as a cue for future phobic fear responses

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21
Q

stigma

A

the feeling of shame or disgrace associated with a personal characteristic that indicates you belong to a culturally devalued group in society – this can be real or imagined

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22
Q

what is the most common mental health condition?

A

anxiety
it affects 1/4 people at some stage in their life

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23
Q

what is anxiety characterised by

A

worry, fear and anxiety strong enough to interfere with daily activities

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24
Q

what are some characteristics of a specific phobia

A

persistent, intense, irrational fear of a specific object or event leading to avoidance behaviour.

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25
Q

how does specific phobia differ from ordinary fear

A

ordinary fear can protect us from dangerous situations but specific phobias are out of proportion to the actual danger, where individuals organise their lives to avoid the phobic stimulus due to excessive and unreasonable fear

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26
Q

what is required

A

must be present for 6 months or longer
disrupt personal life, especially work and social relationships
causes serious distress

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27
Q

what are 4 categories that phobias can be placed into

A

the natural environment- water/storms
animals- snakes/spiders
potential bodily pain or injury- needles/sight of blood
situations- heights/ confined or open spaces

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28
Q

what is generalised anxiety disorder, GAD

A

Persistent and excessive worry, often about daily situations like work, family or health. This worry is difficult to control and interferes with the person’s day-to-day life and relationships

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29
Q

what is a specific phobia

A

Extreme anxiety and fear of particular objects or situations. Common phobias include fear of flying, fear of spiders and other animals, and fear of injections

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30
Q

what is a panic disorder

A

The experience of repeated and unexpected panic attacks – sudden surges of overwhelming fear and anxiety accompanied by physical symptoms such as chest pain, heart palpitations, dizziness and breathlessness. In panic disorder, these panic attacks come ‘out of the blue’ with no apparent trigger.

31
Q

agoraphobia

A

Involves intense anxiety in situations and places where the person feels it would be difficult for them to get out quickly or get help if needed. This includes situations such as using public transport, being in a lift or a cinema, standing in a queue, being in a crowd, or being outside of the home alone.

32
Q

obsessive compulsive disorder OCD

A

Recurring, persistent and distressing thoughts, images or impulses known as obsessions (e.g. a fear of catching germs), or feeling compelled to carry out certain repetitive behaviours, rituals or mental acts, known as compulsions (e.g. handwashing). Some people with OCD have both obsessions and compulsions. These thoughts and behaviours can take over a person’s life and, while people with OCD usually know that their obsessions and compulsions are an overreaction, they feel they are unable to stop them.

33
Q

social anxiety disorder

A

Severe anxiety about being criticised or viewed negatively by others. This leads the person to avoid social events and other social situations for fear of doing something that leads to embarrassment or humiliation.

34
Q

What are two key characteristics of a phobia?

A

Fear is excessive, unreasonable or out of proportion with the actual level of threat posed.
The person with a phobia feels compelled to avoid the phobic stimulus and may organise their life to avoid the phobic stimulus.

35
Q

Explain how a phobia is different from fear.

A

Ordinary fear can be rational and adaptive (i.e. it serves to protect us from harm), whereas the fear induced by a phobic response is disproportionate to the real risk involved, leading to avoidance behaviour.

36
Q

Explain how a specific phobia is different from other anxiety disorders.

A

A specific phobia involves extreme fear in response to one particular stimulus (although the type of stimulus can vary),whereas other anxiety disorders involve extreme fear in response to a broader range of stimuli.

37
Q

how can biological factors contribute to specific phobias

A

internal/physiologically based or determined factors which can lead to a predisposition or increased chance of developing a specific phobia

38
Q

what are some examples of biological factors that contribute to phobia development

A

GABA dysfunction and LTP

39
Q

how does GABA dysfunction lead to the development of a phobia

A

GABA dysfunction → increased activation of the flight, fight or freeze response → more likely to develop a phobia

40
Q

why is GABA an inhibitory neurotransmitter

A

GABA blocks or inhibits certain neural signals and decreases activity in the nervous system. it make s the post synaptic neurons less likely to fire an action potential, inducing a calming effect.

41
Q

what is excessive anxiety caused by

A

an elevated stress response caused by the release of glutamate in a FFF response

42
Q

what happens if GABA production is inhibited

A

if there is a failure to produce, release or receive the correct GABA signal, then there’s insufficient inhibitory signals to adequately regulate heightened arousal levels caused by glutamate. this causes exaggerated feelings of fear or anxiety

43
Q

how does low GABA increase vulnerability to anxiety

A

their FFF response may be easily activated when encountering the phobic stimulus, causing them to become more anxious to stimuli. this stress response may be severe and can persist for long periods, maintaining feelings of anxiety related to a fear of the object even if imaged

44
Q

how can LTP contribute to the development of specific phobia

A

LTP can strengthen the association between a phobic stimulus and a fear/anxiety response through repeated activation of the same neural pathways. when these connections are activated through different encounters or recalling the encounter, connections are further strengthened. any positive experiences are thought about less, resulting in positive memories being lost

45
Q

how can psychological factors contribute to specific phobias

A

thoughts and perceptions play a key role in developing and maintaining a specific phobia

46
Q

what are some examples of psychological factors that contribute to phobia development

A

behavioural models of phobia development - precipitation by CC and perpetuation by OC
cognitive bias
memory bias
catastrophic thinking

47
Q

define behaviourism

A

Behaviourism is a theory of learning based on the idea that all behaviours are acquired through an interaction with the environment.

48
Q

how can behavioural models result in phobia development

A

classical conditioning plays a role in the initiation or development of the phobia and operant conditioning plays a role in maintaining a specific phobia

49
Q

how can classical conditioning result in specific phobia

A

UCS- phobic stimulus
UCR- shock and fear
NS- no phobic stimulus
NS=CS
UCR=UCS
as such, when a stimulus that didn’t previously elicit a response is repeatedly paired with a stimulus that produces a naturally occurring response, the two stimuli will be linked and teh previously neutral stimlus will consistently produce an involuntary response

50
Q

how can specific phobias be perpetuated by operant conditioning

A

once a phobia is developed, it can be perpetuated by negative reinforcement. when confronted by or thinks they might be confronted by a phobic stimulus, using avoidance behaviour reduces the unpleasant feelings of fear or anxiety associated making them more likely to avoid the phobic stimulus

51
Q

what does the cognitive model suggest

A

describes how people’s perceptions of situations influence their emotional and behavioural reactions. When we are distressed, our perceptions are often distorted. Therefore, the cognitive model is used to examine distorted thinking in the development and maintenance of a specific phobia.

52
Q

how do cognitive biases contribute to specific phobia

A

The underlying assumption of the cognitive model is that people with a specific phobia often have one or morecognitive biases, a tendency to think in a way that involves errors of judgement and faulty decision-making.

53
Q

how can memory bias result in a specific phobia

A

a memory bias involves distorted thinking that either enhances or impairs the recall of a memory or that alters its content. those with a memory bias tend to distort and exaggerate fears relating to phobias by focusing more on the negative experiences. they may also minimise and forget the positive or contradictory information that may challenge the fear

54
Q

how does catastrophic thinking lead to a specific phobia

A

when thinking about an encounter with a phobic stimulus, those with a specific phobia tend to predict the worst outcomes that are unrealistic and irrational. they tend to feel heightened levels of anxiety and distress and underestimates their ability to cope with the situation or their symptoms of anxiety. this perpetuates the fear of the object or situation.

55
Q

Compare and contrast the behavioural and cognitive models.

A

The behavioural model emphasises that behaviour is influenced by learning processes, whereas the cognitive model emphasises that behaviour is influenced by internal mental processes.

56
Q

Using your own example, explain how a specific phobia can be precipitated through classical conditioning.

A

Before conditioning

The phobic stimulus (NS) initially produces no response.
The person experiences a traumatic event involving the phobic stimulus (UCS) and this causes them to feel scared/distressed as a result of the traumatic event (UCR).
During conditioning

There would be a repeated association of seeing/thinking about the phobic stimulus (NS) presented before the traumatic event (UCS), which caused the person to feel scared/distressed as a result of the phobic stimulus (UCR).
After conditioning

The phobic stimulus (CS) alone now produces feelings of fear and distress in response to the phobic stimulus (CR).

57
Q

Based on what you have learned about operant conditioning in Chapter 3, explain how a specific phobia could be precipitated through operant conditioning.

A

Antecedent: a child imagines they see a monster in the shadows being cast on their bedroom wall.
Behaviour: the child is frightened and cries.
Consequence: the child’s mother hugs the child and comforts them.
This positively reinforces the fear of the shadows being cast on the wall, making them more likely to be scared of the shadow on the wall in future.

58
Q

Define ‘cognitive bias’.

A

Cognitive bias is a tendency to think in a way that involves errors of judgement and faulty decision making

59
Q

Name and explain two types of cognitive biases associated with a specific phobia.

A

Memory bias: the distorting influences of present knowledge, beliefs and feelings on the recollection of previous experiences. For example, a person with a phobia of dog will tend to remember the one and only time they were chased by a dog but forget all the other times when a dog showed no response to their presence.
Catastrophic thinking: involves overestimating and exaggerating the worst possible outcomes to situations even though they are unlikely to occur. For example, a person with a dog phobia may think that any dog they encounter will attack them and leave them with permanent facial disfigurement.

60
Q

Explain how cognitive biases affect the progression of a specific phobia.

A

Cognitive bias makes an individual experience increased feelings of helplessness and underestimate their ability to cope with the situation. This makes them more likely to avoid any situation in which they perceive that they will be exposed to the phobic stimulus, which inhibits their ability to overcome the phobia.

61
Q

what does the social model suggest in relation to phobias

A

social factors are external factors that involve skills in interacting with others, and the range and quality of interpersonal relationships are examples of nurture in action.

62
Q

what are some types of social factors that may contribute to phobia development

A

specific environmental triggers
stigma around seeking treatment

63
Q

how can specific environmental triggers result in specific phobias

A

a specific phobia can be developed after a direct negative and traumatic experience with an object or situation of which produces extreme fear or discomfort. this encounter is often attributed to be the cause of their phobia. this is as it acts as a stimulus in a conditioned fear response seen through CC

64
Q

how can a traumatic experience be structured to avoid phobia development

A

if a person is exposed to a positive experience soon after the traumatic one, they are less likely to form an association between the fear object and response

65
Q

what are some common stigmas around those with a mental illness

A

nearly a quarter of people thought depression was a sign of personal weakness and would not employ such a person
about a third would not vote for a politician with depression
two-fifths thought people with depression were unpredictable
one-fifth said if they had depression, they would not tell anyone
nearly two-thirds thought people with schizophrenia were unpredictable
one-quarter thought people with schizophrenia were dangerous
stigmatising attitudes were highest towards people with schizophrenia.

66
Q

how can stigmatisation result in individuals not seeking treatment

A

those with a specific phobia are vulnerable to stigmatisation as the phobias are irrational and others may struggle to empathise with them. those with a specific phobia can be ridiculed and suffer belittling comments/disbelief as some phobic stimulus are typically perceived as hopeless.

67
Q

how can distress and symptoms be worsened

A

a lack of understanding by the community, which can make them feel shame and hopeless, creating a barrier to seeking treatment. this perpetuates a specific phobia

68
Q

Explain what a social contributing factor is with reference to an example.

A

Social factors are external factors that involve skills in interacting with others, and the range and quality of interpersonal relationships. An example of a social factor is when specific phobias can develop through observation and subsequent modelling of another person’s fearful behaviour towards a particular object or situation; for example, a child who observes a parent react with panic to the sight of a spider or mouse may imitate the same behavioural response.

69
Q

What effect does a specific environmental trigger have on the development of a phobia?

A

When a specific phobia develops after a direct negative (and traumatic) experience with an object or situation, the initial fear response to the environmental trigger may become a conditioned fear response through classical conditioning processes. The conditioned phobic stimulus can also be generalised to other similar stimuli.

70
Q

Why do some people experience a traumatic experience but not develop a phobia?

A

A single traumatic experience does not explain the origin of all phobias through direct experience. Two people may have a traumatic experience with the same object or situation, and one subsequently can develop a specific phobia while the other does not. This is mainly due to subsequent exposure to the object (i.e. whether it is positive or negative). If a person subsequently has a positive experience associated with a potentially phobic stimulus, they are much less likely to develop a phobia.

71
Q

Explain the term ‘stigma’ with reference to an example.

A

Stigma refers to shame, disgrace or disapproval typically associated with a particular characteristic or attribute that sets a person apart; for example, skin colour, cultural background or a mental health disorder.

72
Q

How does stigma allow a specific phobia to progress?

A

Phobias often involve irrational and unrealistic emotions and behaviours. People often do not understand their reaction, and this can lead to stigma (social disapproval), which can cause feelings of shame or hopelessness that result in them hiding their symptoms. This would prevent them from seeking help for their condition.

73
Q

Explain why a specific phobia falls under the category of an anxiety disorder.

A

A specific phobia is an excessive or irrational fear of a particular object or situation, leading to a disproportionate fear response and avoidance behaviour. It causes significant anxiety and distress and interferes with normal functioning; hence, it is a type of anxiety disorder.

74
Q

Discuss two characteristics of a mental disorder that could be used before deciding whether someone is suffering from a specific phobia.

A

Atypical behaviour: people with a specific phobia stop engaging in tasks that they normally would (such as seeing friends or exercising) due to avoidance of the phobic stimulus.
Psychological dysfunction: people with a specific phobia cannot function effectively in their environment; for example, they cannot go to work or leave the house because they are afraid of being exposed to the phobic stimulus.
Distress: people with a specific phobia often experience a heightened stress response accompanied by extreme fear.

psych unit 4 (13 decks)

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