applications of biopsychosocial phobias Flashcards
define anxiety
a feeling of apprehension, dread or unease inn response to an unclear or ambiguous threat A PERSON FEELING ANXIOUS CAN - execute complex activities - learn new responses - plan appropriate responses
define stress
a state of mental or physical tension that occurs when an individual must adjust or adapt to their environment but they do not feel as if they have the capacity to do so
define phobia
a persistent, irrational and intense fear of a specific object, activity or situation
anxiety disorder
- reoccurring unrealistic and intrusive fear
- avoidance behaviour
- pervasive feelings of stress, insecurity, unhappiness and dissatisfaction that causes dysfunction
symptoms of a specific phobia
intense fear irrational fear avoids fear object, activity or situation cannot control fear overwhelming anxiety fear interrupts daily functioning
what are the biological factors that contribute to a specific phobia
- Gaba dysfunction
- stress
- long term potentiation
what are the psychological factors that contribute to a specific phobia
- precipitation by classical conditioning
- perpetuation by operant conditioning
- cognitive bias
- catastrophic thinking
what are the social factors that contribute to a specific phobia
- environmental triggers
- stigma around seeking treatment
GABA dysfunction
GABA is an inhibitory neurones meaning it slows down or calms the body’s responses to counteract the excitability of neurones
- this means specific features in the stress response such as increased heart rate, blood pressure and respiration are reduced
- those people naturally lacking or deficient in GABA
may not be able to regulate anxiety and therefor have a greater chance of developing a phobia
- people deficient in GABA have a higher chance of developing insomnia, depression, mood disorders, stress and hypertension
stress
stress activates the SNS
- stress results in increased heart rate, blood pressure and respiration
The autonomic nervous system of those who suffer with phobias show an increased stress response
- when symptoms present it can lead to significant dysfunction such as avoiding usual activities and can have a detrimental effect on the persons physical and mental health
- learning to recognise the symptoms of stress can help suffers gain control over it
long term potentiation
- a form of neural plasticity that leads to an increase in the efficiency of synaptic transmission (information is transmitted more efficiently and faster)
- for example if we are exposed to a fear stimulus such as a spider, our memory circuit of this experienced will be strengthened and via communication with the amygdala, will generate a variety of symptoms of fear and anxiety such as heart rate and sweating
- LTP contributes as it strengthens the synapses with neural circuits
what is the behavioural model
proposes that phobic anxiety is a result of learning
classical conditioning and he development of a phobia (example explanation)
jas is phobic of dogs as an adult
- when jasmine was young her neighbours dog chased her through the park barking loudly. At the time jasmine experiences extreme fear including rapid pulse, sweaty palms and increased breathing
- now whenever jasmine is approached by a dog she experiences the same symptoms. Jasmine will now avoid areas where dogs may be present so that she feels more comfortable and relaxed
- in this example
NEURTRAL STIMULIS: the dog
UNNCONDITONED STIMULUS: unpleasant experience with angry dog
UNCONDITIONED RESPONSE: fearful respite of sweaty palms, increased heart rate and breathing
what is classical conditioning
a form of learning where two normally unrelated stimuli are repeatedly linked so that exisiting reflects responses are elicited by new stimuli that would normally not produce this response
operant conditioning
a learning process in which the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated is determined by the consequence of that behaviour
