Application of a biopsychosocial approach as a scientific model, to explain specific phobia (19) Flashcards
Biopsychosocial approach
There appear to be several mechanisms that contribute to the development of a specific phobia, and that are also relevant to the maintenance and treatment.
Contributing biological factors
- Fight flight freeze
- Long term potentiation
- Once activated stress hormones such as noradrenalin and adrenalin are released into our blood streams to increase our blood and heart rate. A person with a specific phobia will experience an intense fight flight freeze response when they are confronted with the feared stimulus.
- Long term potentiation is an experience dependent type of brain plasticity where physical changes occur as a result of the repeated stimulation of a neural pathway during learning. Link between LP and memory Consolidation of experience occurs in hippocampus Intense psychological arousal is stored by the amygdala–> strengthening neural pathways of fear.
Contributing biological factors
- GABA and glutamate
- GABA has an inhibitory role. When a person has low levels of GABA, the increased levels of glutamate increase agitation and anxiety which can contribute to the development of a specif phobia.
Contributing biological factors
- Genetic predisposition and inherited vulnerabilities.
- Persons biological makeup can lead to a genetic vulnerability - such as being born with low levels of GABA.
Contributing psychological factors
- Behavioural model
- Examines how an organism’s behaviors are influenced by environmental factors and downplays the importance of thinking processes.
- precipitation of specific phobia through classical conditioning. A NS paired with an UCS elicits an UCR. In other words we can develop a a phobia of a NS because we have been conditioned to associate it with fear.
- Perpetuation through operant conditioning.
- The process of a child actively avoiding a visit to the dentist or having a tantrum that makes a session impossible has more to do with operant conditioning.
Contributing psychological factors
- Cognitive model
Emphasis the influence of thought processes on how we feel and behave
- Psychologists uses this model to examine and challenge the distorted thinking processes involved in the development and maintenance of the condition.
Contributing social factors
-Environmental triggers
- direct exposure
- Witnessing
- Reading or hearing
Contributing social factors
- Parental modelling
According to this theory a great deal of our behavior is learnt through imitating or modelling other people’s behaviours. Specific phobias canbe learnt through observing other people’s phobic reactions.
Contributing social factors
- Transmission of threat information
Information can be received from a range of different sources including the media, school etc.
Contributing social factors
- Stigma around seeking treatment
- Stigma to a mark of disgrace that labels a person a different and separates them from others.
