Explaining Phobias Flashcards
How does classical conditioning explain phobias?
(Behaviourist Explanation)
States that fear is learned through association, just like behaviours.
Operant conditioning states that fears, once they are onset, help to reinforce the fear.
How does operant conditioning explain phobias?
(Behaviourist Explanation)
States that fears, once they are onset, help to reinforce the fear.
The behavioural explanation of phobias is completed through what model?
(Behaviourist Explanation)
The ‘two-process model’.
What are the two process within the ‘two-process model’? Which type of conditioning links to which?
(Behaviourist Explanation)
The acquisition: (classical conditioning).
The maintenance of phobias: (operant conditioning).
What is the ‘acquisition’? Give an example.
(Behaviourist Explanation)
(The ‘two-process model)
The onset of phobias is seen as occurring directly through classical conditioning.
E.g. a traumatic experience like being bitten by a dog.
What is the ‘maintenance of phobias’?
(Behaviourist Explanation)
(The ‘two-process model)
Seen as occurring through operant conditioning, where avoiding or escaping the feared object/ situation acts as a negative reinforcer.
Reward acts as a removal of anxiety.
Outline 3 limitations of the ‘two-process model’.
(Behaviourist Explanation)
(The ‘two-process model)
Reductionist, as it doesn’t consider other phobia explanations.
Deterministic, as it suggests all who have phobias go through the process.
Cannot explain why we seem to be pre-prepared to fear certain stimuli; biological preparedness.
Not all individuals who experience a stressful event go on to develop a phobia.
Not all people with phobias can recall a traumatic experience. E.g. Di Nardo.
Behaviour explanations do not account for cognitive characteristics of phobias.
Outline Bagby’s study from 1922.
(Supports the classical conditioning onset of phobias)
(AO3 for behavioural explanations of phobias)
Supports the classical conditioning onset of phobias.
This is because they reported on a case study of a woman who had a phobia of running water that originated from her feet getting stuck in some rocks near a waterfall.
This suggests that her phobia was generated from an association.
Outline King et al’s study from 1988.
(Supports the classical conditioning onset of phobias)
(AO3 for behavioural explanations of phobias)
Supports the classical conditioning onset of phobias.
This is because they reported that case studies of children tended to include phobias through strong childhood traumatic experiences.
This suggests supports that phobias are generated from childhood fears.
Outline Di Gallo’s study from 1966.
(Supports the classical conditioning onset of phobias)
(AO3 for behavioural explanations of phobias)
Supports the classical conditioning onset of phobias.
This is because they reported that around 20% of people who experience traumatic car accident developed a synonymous phobia.
This suggests that an event can create a phobia through similar events.
Outline the biological approach to explaining phobias.
A physical cause.
Symptoms can be identified, leading to a diagnosis.
Diagnosis leads to an appropriate treatment.
Most illnesses can be described in terms of clusters of symptoms.
Outline the psychodynamic approach to explaining phobias.
Childhood is a critical period in development.
Much of our behaviour is driven by unconscious forces.
Resolution occurs through accessing and coming to terms with repressed ideas and conflicts.
Mental disorders arise from unresolved, unconscious conflicts originating in childhood.
Outline the behaviourist approach to explaining phobias.
All behaviour is learnt and maladaptive behaviour is no different.
The same laws apply to human behaviour as non-human behaviour.
What was learned can be unlearned using the same principles.
This learning can be understood in terms of the principles of conditioning and modelling.
Outline the cognitive approach to explaining phobias.
Aim to be positive and rational.
Maladaptive behaviour is caused by faulty and irrational cognitions.
It is the way you think of a problem, rather than the problem itself, that causes the mental disorder.
Individuals overcome mental disorders by learning more appropriate cognitions.
