Phobias

Question 1

Define ‘phobia’.

Answer 1

An anxiety disorder which involves an extreme and irrational fear towards something that may cause panic attacks and avoidance.

Question 2

How would classical conditioning explain the acquisition of a phobia?

Answer 2

Through associating A negative experience with previously neutral stimulus
- that is then conditioned to become the phobia
- It is most likely to happen Through one trial learning

Question 3

Describe the scientific formula with the example of a dog attack for the acquisition of a phobia using 3 stages: before conditioning, during conditioning, and after conditioning.

Answer 3

Dog (NS) –> No response
Attack/pain (UCS) –> Fear (UCR)
Dog (NS) + Attack (UCS) –> Fear (UCR)
Dog (CS) –> Fear (CR)

Question 4

How would operant conditioning explain the maintenance of a phobia?

Answer 4

1) Avoiding the phobia through negative reinforcement
- Avoiding a situation that would involve public speaking removes anxiety you had
2) Avoiding the phobia through positive reinforcement
- Avoiding a spider by running away and feeling better after being further away
3) Positive punishment- when you try to face your fear you get punished with a sense of fear and anxiety

Question 5

How would social learning explain the acquisition of a phobia, give an example?

Answer 5

Through observing and imitating our role model as many phobias are acquired in childhood. We pay attention to the role model showing fear, retain their fear behaviours in memory, repeat them ourselves when put in a similar situation
- Through vicarious reinfocement when watching A parent run away from A spider and feel better afterwards we are motivated