4.3: Explaining phobias

Question 1

Sammy has a phobia of birds. This started when he was three years old. A seagull frightened him when it swooped down and stole his sandwich as he was eating it.

Sammy is now eight years old. He is scared when walking to school and is so afraid of birds that he will not play outside.

Use your knowledge of the behavioural explanation of phobias to outline how Sammy’s phobia might have developed (2 marks)

Answer 1

Sammy’s phobia might have developed by learning by association of a UCS with a CD

Question 2

Sammy has a phobia of birds. This started when he was three years old. A seagull frightened him when it swooped down and stole his sandwich as he was eating it.

Sammy is now eight years old. He is scared when walking to school and is so afraid of birds that he will not play outside.

Use your knowledge of the behavioural explanation of phobias to outline how Sammy’s phobia might have developed (2 marks).
Sammy’s phobia might have developed by learning by association of a UCS with a CD, producing what?

Answer 2

Sammy’s phobia might have developed by learning by association of a UCS with a CD, producing a CR

Question 3

Sammy has a phobia of birds. This started when he was three years old. A seagull frightened him when it swooped down and stole his sandwich as he was eating it.

Sammy is now eight years old. He is scared when walking to school and is so afraid of birds that he will not play outside.

Use your knowledge of the behavioural explanation of phobias to outline how Sammy’s phobia might have developed (2 marks).
Sammy’s phobia might have developed by learning by association of a UCS with a CD, producing a CR - When is a fear acquired?

Answer 3

Sammy’s phobia might have developed by learning by association of a UCS with a CD, producing a CR - A fear is acquired when:

1. A previously neutral stimulus (bird) is associated with a frightening event (the sudden theft of the sandwich)
2. A fear response results

Question 4

Outline a behavioural explanation of phobias (2 marks)

Answer 4

A behavioural explanation of phobias is that phobias are learnt through classical conditioning.
Fear is acquired when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a frightening event

Question 5

Outline a behavioural explanation of phobias (2 marks).
A behavioural explanation of phobias is that phobias are learnt through classical conditioning.
Fear is acquired when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a frightening event.

Briefly discuss one limitation of the behavioural explanation of phobias that you have outlined (2 marks)

Answer 5

Not all phobias are triggered by a traumatic experience, where the initial association between the phobic object and fear is formed.
This suggests that alternative explanations are needed