Phobias

Question 1

what is a phobia>

Answer 1

extreme irrational fear of or aversion to something

often characterised by avoidance behaviour and extreme reactions

Question 2

how does classical conditioning cause phobias?

Answer 2

-classical conditioning assumes learning b association
-natural reflexes are paired with neutral stimuli
-repeated association of UCS and NS cause NS to become CS which causes CR
example- pain(UCS)+dog(NS)=phobia
dog(CS)=pain(CR)

Question 3

how does social learning theory cause phobias?

Answer 3

• SLT states that people learn through observation
• imitation of role models
• we pay attention to fear behaviour from a model
• vicarious reinforcement- if role model seen to be gaining reward, person will copy

Question 4

how does operant conditioning continue phobias?

Answer 4

-you are positively reinforced to run away from thing you are scared o-run away rewarded with feeling of relief
-negative reinforcement- feeling of fear goes away when you run away from it
positive punishment- given a negative which decreases a behaviour- you face a fear-you panic- you learn not to do it again