Learning theory explanation of phobias

Question 1

Describe the application of the learning theory explanation of phobias

Answer 1

1. There is a real-world application to treating phobias
   - Systematic desensitisation and flooding are based on classical conditioning as a way to treat phobias

• Systematic desensitisation helps clients to learn new responses to the phobic stimulus whilst flooding works by the extinction of learnt fear responses
• This illustrates the practical value of learning explanations for phobias

Question 2

Describe how social learning theory can be used in systematic desensitisation

Answer 2

Social learning can also be used in systematic desensitisation because a model can be used to demonstrate the required behaviour or to show relaxation in the presence of the phobic object (participant modelling)

Question 3

Describe the therapy of systematic desensitisation as a way of treating phobias

Answer 3

1. Systematic desensitization involves a step-by-step approach to get the person used to the phobic object or situation
2. If the phobia can be learned then it can also be unlearnt.
3. If the phobia is unlearned, instead of the fear response to the phobic object a relaxed response is presented
4. People might be taught to relax their muscles, imagine happy scenarios, meditate and try to change their thinking about the phobic object
5. This is so that anxiety is reduced and replaced with a relaxed response
6. To check for a relaxed response, pulse rate or breathing rate can be used as biofeedback, biofeedback is a useful technique for the individual to control their own physiological responses
7. The gradual introduction involves a hierarchy, from slight introduction to exposure. Individuals might set their own hierarchy so it is meaningful for them.

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of flooding (exposure therapy) as a treatment for treating phobias

Answer 4

1. Classical conditioning involves the extinction of a phobia and a phobia can be extinguished using flooding because the association would no longer be there, however, there can be spontaneous recovery
   - This can happen with systematic desensitisation too however it is less likely because over time there is a stronger dissociation between the phobic object and the fear, as the relaxation response is stronger
   - This suggests that flooding may not be a permanent treatment for a phobia

Question 5

Describe flooding (exposure therapy) as a treatment for phobias

Answer 5

1. Flooding has classical conditioning principles, its made to replace the fear response with a non-fear response
2. The principle is biological - if someone is experiencing an alarm reaction for a long length of time it would eventually have to subside
3. The alarm reaction is a biological reaction giving the person energy to fight or flee, as the energy is used up and no more is available, the body will calm
4. If someone is exposed to the phobic object, the fear response will be triggered (the alarm reaction), this will then subside
5. So the person will learn by association that a calmer response links to the previously phobic object
6. The calmer response is forced

Question 6

Describe the advantages of the learning theory explanation of phobias

Answer 6

• The theory is supported by evidence from human and animal studies for the role of conditioning and social learning in the acquisition of phobias
• Evidence for the acquisition of fear responses in humans comes from the Watson and Rayner study of little Albert
• Evidence from the maintenance of fear in animals through avoidance comes from Mowers study of rats
• Cook and Mineka demonstrated social learning of fear of animals in infant rhesus monkeys
• This suggests that even if learning is not a complete explanation for phobias it does take place

Question 7

Describe the disadvantages of the learning theory explanation of phobias

Answer 7

1. Some phenomena associated with the acquisition of phobias can’t be explained by learning alone
   - We acquire phobias of things that have been a source of danger in our evolutionary past like snakes but not things like cars despite the fact that it is still hazardous
   - Some people acquire phobias without conditioning experiences or modelling
   - This is important because it shows that learning is not a complete explanation for the acquisition of phobias

Question 8

Define a phobia

Answer 8

A phobia is an irrational fear of something other people think is harmless

Question 9

What are the two therapies used to treat phobias?

Answer 9

1. Systematic desensitisation

2. Flooding

Question 10

What does the learning theory explanation of phobias suggest?

Answer 10

The theory states that phobias can be acquired by a process of classical conditioning and are then maintained through operant conditioning

Question 11

Describe the social learning of phobias

Answer 11

1. Cook and Mineka suggested observational learning for the acquisition of phobias

• They demonstrated infant rhesus monkeys who watched adult monkeys displaying fear of fear-relevant stimuli such as toy snakes and crocodiles, acquired the fear of those toys
• Humans acquire phobias by imitating the fear responses modelled by others - this might explain gender differences in phobias.
• Men (fathers) display less visible fear than women, so sons are less likely to acquire phobias than daughters

Question 12

What are the advantages of systematic desensitisation therapy as a treatment for treating phobias?

Answer 12

1. Systematic desensitization has a clear rationale based on classical conditioning principles.
   - Therefore it can be explained to people, which can give them confidence that the therapy will work.
   - Although this may not make the therapy more successful, it is more likely to be accepted by the patients which makes it more successful compared to other therapies that may be rejected
   - If the explanation for the phobia follows the same therapy, it is more logical

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of systematic desensitisation therapy as a treatment for treating phobias?

Answer 13

1. Although systematic desensitization is useful for phobias and anxiety disorders, it’s not useful for other mental health issues like psychoses.
   - The individual needs to learn to relax and actually be relaxed and be involved in the whole process
   - This may not be possible for every patient to do

Question 14

What are the advantages of flooding (exposure therapy) as a treatment for treating phobias

Answer 14

1. Flooding can be stressful, if not traumatic, but it is very quick because the alarm reaction can’t be maintained for a long time
   - For some people with a strong phobia, it can be more successful to endure this quick, though frightening experience, because they aren’t successful in maintaining relaxation so systematic desensitisation doesn’t work for them

Question 15

Describe how phobia is maintained based on the learning theory explanation

Answer 15

1. Operant conditioning takes place when behavior is reinforced
2. Reinforcement increases the frequency of a behaviour
3. Negative reinforcement takes place when a behaviour is rewarded by the removal of something unpleasant
4. When someone with a conditioned phobia responds by avoiding the fear-provoking stimulus, their anxiety lessens and this provides negative reinforcement for the avoidance behaviour
5. This avoidance and its negative reinforcement is what maintains phobias

Question 16

Describe how phobia is acquired based on the learning theory explanation

Answer 16

1. It involves learning to associate one stimulus with another stimulus
2. The neutral stimulus initially creates no fear and the unconditioned stimulus creates the fear response
3. Through association and pairing, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus producing a conditioned response of fear
4. The neutral stimulus becomes conditioned when it elicits fear without the presence of the unconditioned stimulus