Psychopathology: Phobias

Question 1

What is a phobia?

Answer 1

An irrational fear of an object/situation

Question 2

Define ‘Specific Phobia’

Answer 2

phobia of an object or situation (animal phobias, natural phobias)

Question 3

Define ‘Social Anxiety’

Answer 3

phobia of a social situation such as public speaking or using something public

Question 4

Define ‘Agoraphobia’

Answer 4

phobia of being outside or in a public area

Question 5

What is the two-process model of phobias?

Answer 5

Mowrer 1960
Phobias are acquired by classical conditioning and maintained by operant conditioning

Question 6

State the strengths of the two-process model (phobias)

Answer 6

Can provide convincing explanations for phobias
- Sue el al 1994 found that traumatic events lead to phobias
Provides treatments and has practical applications
- Systematic desensitization & flooding

Question 7

State the weaknesses of the two-process model (phobias)

Answer 7

Behaviourist
- ignores cognition
Some phobias do not derive from personal experience
- weakens the support of the explanation
Biological preparedness
- innate
- nature vs nurture
- Seligman 1970 - “ancient fears” - evolutionary fears