Phobias Flashcards
what are the behavioural characteristics of phobias
avoidance: avoiding phobic stimulus
panic: uncontrolled physical response
failure to function: difficulty taking part in normal activities
what are the emotional characteristics of phobias
anxiety
fear
what are the cognitive characteristics of phobias
irrational thoughts
reduced cognitive capacity
outline Mowrers two process model for phobias
Acquistion by classical conditioning:
- phobic object is a neutral stimulus which becomes a conditioned stimulus with a fear response with association
Maintenance by operant conditioning:
- the avoidance behaviour leads to a reduction in anxiety which is a pleasant sensation (negative reinforcement)
outline the Little Albert study
- Albert was shown some mice > he wasnt scared of them (neutral stimulus)
- Then a loud bang was created (phobic stimulus) to scare Albert every time the mice came
- Albert then would show signs of being scared of the mice even if the bang wasnt present so the mice had now become a phobia
how is the Watson and Rayner Little Albert study supporting evidence for Mowrers model
shows that phobias are acquired through association
what is the real world application of the Mowrers model
has been applied for treatments to phobias by systematic desensitation and flooding
whats a limitation for the two process model
doesnt account for evolutionary theory
what is the behaviourist approach to treating phobias
to counter condition phobias by replacing the fear association to the phobic stimulus with a relaxing calm one
what are the methods to treating phobias
systematic desensitisation
flooding
what is systematic desensitisation
the therpaist progresses through an anxiety hierarchy starting off with the least feared to most feared which leads to the extinction of the phobia as the indivudual learns to relax with each progression
what is flooding
immediate and maximum exposure to the phobic stimulus to allow the individual to realise theres actually no harm
limitations of flooding
not suitable for older people
strengths of flooding
quicker than SD
limitations of SD
takes very long to complete
bound to the controlled environment of the therapists office
