ISSUES AND DEBATES- EXPLANATIONS OF ANXIETY AND FEAR RELATED DISORDERS Flashcards
Can you explain one strength of the psychological explanation for anxiety and fear-related disorders
- Supported by research/empirically: Watson & Rayner(1920) supports the idea phobias can be learnt through classical conditioning.
- (Albert’s fear was learned through association..)
- Suggests= anxiety disorders develop similarly (proving enviromental factors play a key role)
Also link to Watson & Rayner (1920)- methdology (controls)
What is behaviouralism?
- Argues that ppl learn through interactions w/ their enviroments.
- So all behaviours are acquired through conditioning.
Can you explain one weakness of the psychological explanation for anxiety and fear-related disorders?
- Reductive: Ignores role of genetics and biochemistry in anxiety and phobias.
- Also does not account for phobias/anxieties that are not linked to specific traumatic events.
more holistic approach- diathesis-stress model
Genetics- 5HTTLPR/COMT GENE
Neurotransmitters- Serotonin, GABA
Psychological explanation for anxiety disorders- Free will vs determism
- Free-will: Behavioralist approach suggests that all behaviours are learnt and thus can be unlearnt via conditioning.
- Behaviours can be modified via systematic desenitisation and counter conditioning.
Explain one strength of biological explanations of phobias and anxiety disorders?
- Scientific and emperical support: Research shows a heritable component in anxiety disorders/phobias.
- Ost (1992) found a strong genetic link between blood (50%- with 1 parents) and injection phobias (27%- with 1 parents).
- Suggests that individuals with a family history with phobias/anxietys are more likely to develop it themselves.
Also link to OST (1992) methdology- objective!
Can you explain one weakness of the biological explanation for anxiety and fear-related disorders
- Biological reductionism: overlooks enviromental influences (trauma/ learned experiences) and cognitive factors (irrational thought patterns).
A biopsychosocial approach would be more comprehensive.
Link to Little Hans- phobia caused by repressed trauma/ conflict
Diathesis-stress model definition
- Explains mental disorders as a result of interactions between genetic predisposition (diathesis) and enviromental stressors.
Can you explain one strength of the psychodynamic approach for anxiety and fear-related disorders?
- Considers unconcious conflicts: In the development of phobias/anxiety.
- Suggests that phobias arise due to internal conflicts, repression and displacement. anxiety due to unconcious conflicts between id/ego/superego
- provides insight into emotional/unconcious causes of anxiety/ phobias (overlooked by other explanations)
Can you explain one weaknesses of the psychodynamic approach for anxiety and fear-related disorders?
- Lack scientific rigor (not a controlled, objective, replicable investigation)
- Freud’s interpretations were highly subjective and could’ve been influenced by research biases (e.g he ignored alternate explanations such as classical conditioning)
- His theory is based on the unconcious mind, which is unfalsifiable and cannot be measured or tested emperically.
COR
Biological explanations- determinism
- Deterministic- : Assumes that only genes dictate whether an individual will develop anxiety or phobias ignoring the potential for personal agency or environmental interactions (trauma, environmental stressors. Concordance rates are not 100%
Psychodynamic approach- determinism
- psychic determinism- suggests that behavior is shaped by unconscious forces beyond an individual’s control, rather than free will.
- suggests phobias and anxiety disorders are caused by unconscious conflicts from childhood, particularly those linked to repression and displacement.
