Phobias

Question 1

Define what a phobia is

Answer 1

*experiencing extreme fear, anxiety actived by an object.
*fear of phobic stimulus is irrational and often out of proportion to any real danger.

Question 2

Characteristics of phobas

Answer 2

Behavioural- avoidance, panic
Emotional- fear, anxiety
Cognitive- persistent irrational beliefs, selective attention (constantly looking at phoboc stimulus, not wanting to look away incase of danger)

Question 3

What is the two process model

Answer 3

*MOWRER suggests that phobias are learnt bheviour through classical conditioning and maintained by operant conditioning.
Individual avoids phobic stimulus reducing anxiety this acts as negative reinforcement. Reduction of anxiety reinforces the avoidance behaviour meaning person more likely to continue to avoid stimulus, preventing them from learning feared stimulus isn’t dangerous.

This is the 2 process model

Question 4

Classical conditioning for phobias

Answer 4

*associate something that you have no fear of, neutral stimulus to something that triggers a fear response, unconditioned stim. Fear reponse triggered everytime they see object

Question 5

Operant conditioning for phobias

Answer 5

Mowrer says that phobias are maintained thru operant condiioning, bcs by continuing to avoid the feared stimulus, theyrebeing negative reinforcemenced as it reduces their anxiety.

*continues making phobias long lasting, by avoidance