Aquisition Of Phobias

Question 1

Acquisition of phobias

A01- Concept of a phobia

Answer 1

Exaggerated fear of an object or situation.
DSM- Marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable, cued by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situation.

Situation is avoided or endured with intense anxiety or distress- interferes significantly with normal routine/ functioning

Question 2

Acquisition of phobias

A01- Classical Conditioning

Answer 2

Classical conditioning-Acquisition
Learning to associate one stimulus with another. NS- initially creates no fear, UCS- Triggers fear response. Through association the NS becomes a conditioned stimulus CS, producing a conditioned response of fear CR. Meaning the CS has the association of the fear response= phobia. May take one pairing of UCS and NS or multiple to create the association

Question 3

Acquisition of phobias

A01- Operant Conditioning

Answer 3

Operant Conditioning- Maintenance
Responses by CC tend to decline over time= extinction, however phobias are persistent, which is explained as a result of operant conditioning
If behaviour is reinforced (positively or negatively) increases the frequency of behavior
Negative reinforcer tend to removed something unpleasant such as anxiety

When someone with a phobia responds by avoiding the fear causing stimulus- the anxiety lessens and provides negative reinforcement for this avoidance behavior= maintains phobia

Question 4

Acquisition of phobias

A01- SLT

Answer 4

SLT- Acquisition and Maintenance

Acquisition-
Observation: Observing a role models fear response to an object eg a spider, a clear display of fear and anxiety. Role model may be older sister or peer of the same sex

Retaining and reinforcement: This behavior would be retained by the individual, more so through vicarious reinforcement- eg see that role model gains attention and comfort through fear response. Acts as a reinforcer in behavior when see role model calm down once phobia removed

Reproduction: Therefore, individual reproduces this behavior when coming into contact with the same phobia and produce a fear response

Maintenance-
Motivation: Behaviour reinforced through gaining the same comfort, attention and by using avoidance behavior