Contributing Factors: Phobia Flashcards
Cognitive Bias
Cognitive bias/distortion is a tendency to think in a way that involves errors of judgement and faulty decision-making.
Catastrophic thinking
A process in which an individual obsessively thinks about a perceived threat, overestimating the threat in a way that is irrational bringing about thoughts of the worst case scenario leading to an increased state of anxiety.
Long-term potentiation
A process in which repeated stimulation of a synaptic connection results in the long-lasting strengthening of that synapse. The amygdala stores an emotional memory and LTP has long term effects
GABA dysfunction
A condition in which an individual has low levels of GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid) in their bloodstream, causing an increase in the presence of glutamate which increases anxiety. This can contribute to the development of a phobia.
Perpetuation by operant conditioning
A situation in which an individual has acquired a phobia though negative reinforcement, which causes them to avoid the phobic stimulus to reduce unpleasant feelings of fear and anxiety. In the case of the dentist phobia, the avoidance of an unpleasant injection acts as
a negative reinforcer that strengthens the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated. It is a perpetuating risk factor.
Memory bias
A cognitive bias in which a memory is encoded inaccurately and is in influenced by distorted thinking. A better recollection of phobic events and information than other information or of negative over positive information. Eg, Remember the frogs squishing noise but not times when frogs were sweet.
Specific environmental triggers
Direct events that can lead to the development of a phobia.
Precipitation by classical conditioning
A neutral stimulus repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus which elicits an unconditioned response can result in the neutral stimulus eliciting a conditioned response. We can develop a phobia of a neutral stimulus because we have been conditioned to associate it with fear. Through this process people can develop phobias of such things as clowns or birds. A precipitating risk factor.
Stigma
A negative label associated with social disapproval or rejection by others who are not labelled in that way. A stigma that mental disorders are abnormal or dangerous may be a social risk factor as it can act as a barrier to individuals seeking and/or accessing treatment.
GABA
Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) has an inhibitory role - makes postsynaptic neuron less likely to fire. It regulates anxiety, arousal and sleep. GABA acts as a sedative. Low levels of GABA can mean higher levels of anxiety (not enough GABA to regulate
anxiety or phobic response)
Biological contributing factors
GABA and glutamate
Role of stress and fight-flight-freeze response
Long term potentiation
Genetic predisposition
Role of stress response
Stress can supress neurogenesis. Sympathetic nervous system activation.
Psychological contributing factors
Precipitation through CC
Perpetuation through OC
Cognitive bias
Catastrophic thinking
3 different types of cognitive bias
Attentional bias
Memory bias
Interpretive bias
Attentional bias
Tendency to selectively attend to phobia related stimuli rather than other stimuli. Eg, noticing frogs when no one else does
Interpretive bias
Tendency to interpret non threatening stimuli as threatening Eg, Frog may jump and poison me
Social contributing factors
Specific environmental triggers
Stigma
The fight-flight-freeze response
The response provides us with resources to deal with danger in our environment and is controlled by the SNS. Once activated, stress hormones such as adrenalin and noradrenalin are released into the bloodstream to increase our heart and respiration rate, circulate more glucose through our body, improve focus and temporarily boost stamina to either fight the impending danger or flee to a safe place.
Role of the amygdala
Vital in initiating and processing emotional responses such as fear and in forming emotional memories. When a person experiences a frightening event, sensory info is processed by the amygdala to become an emotional memory. The amygdala is responsible for classically conditioned fear. When the person is exposed to a similar stimulus, the amygdala triggers the ‘emotion’ of fear and the fight- flight-freeze response is initiated.
Role of the hippocampus
The hippocampus is involved in the formation of declarative memories. The memory of the frightening episode itself is consolidated by the hippocampus, to form a conscious recollection – the more frightening the event, the stronger the memory.
GABA and glutamate
GABA and glutamate play an important role in maintaining the right balance in our nervous system so that our levels of anxiety (physiological arousal) remain at an optimal level. GABA has an inhibitory role and glutamate has an excitatory role, and the two transmitters work together. When a person has low levels of GABA, the increased presence of glutamate increases agitation and anxiety and can contribute to their developing a specific phobia.
Genetic predisposition and inherited vulnerabilities
A person’s biological make up that can lead to a genetic vulnerability such as being born with low levels of GABA. This vulnerability is also expressed in personality: individuals who are apprehensive about environmental objects and events are more likely to develop anxiety disorders and specific phobias. A genetic predisposition does not guarantee occurrence. Certain psychological, social and environmental influences will increase this likelihood.
contributing psychological factors
The psychological factors involved in developing a specific phobia refer to ‘our thoughts, beliefs and perception about ourselves, our experiences and our environment’
Behavioural model of psychological contributing factors
The behavioural approach examines how an organism’s behaviours are in uenced by environmental factors and downplays the importance of thinking processes (cognition). According to the behavioural model, specific phobias are learnt through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning.
