Phobias Intro And Behavioural Approach To Explaining Phobias - C.C And O.C

Question 1

Define phobias

Answer 1

• when you experience extreme fear or anxiety activated by an object, place or situation
• the fear of the phobic stimulus is irrational and often out of proportion to any real danger

Question 2

Describe two behavioural characteristics of phobias

Answer 2

• Avoidance of feared object by making conscious effort to avoid coming in contact with phobic stimulus
• *Panic by crying, screaming or running away from phobic stimulus

Question 3

Describe two cognitive characteristics of phobias

Answer 3

• Persistent irrational beliefs about phobic stimulus
• Selective attention by keeping an eye on phobic stimulus and finding it difficult to look away incase of danger

Question 4

Describe two emotional characteristics of phobias

Answer 4

• *Anxiety as exposure to phobic stimulus causes worry or distress
• *Fear as exposure to phobic stimulus causes terror
• these both may be excessive and often out of proportion to any real danger

Question 5

What does the behavioural approach say about phobias? (Intro) (2)

Answer 5

• suggests phobias are a learned bhv
• initially learnt thru c.c and maintained thru o.c
• this is called the two process model

Question 6

How does someone get a phobia thru c.c? (2)

Answer 6

• c.c involves learning to ass something we have no fear of (NS) with something that already triggers a fear response (UCS)
• this fear response is triggered everytime they see or think about feared object (1)
• watson and raynor conditioned 9 month old little albert to have a fear of rats. Initially, he had no fear of rats. Whenever rat was presented to him, researchers made a loud, scary noise by banging a bar next to alberts ear.
• the noise is an UCS which causes UCR of fear, when rat is presented with loud bang, albert ass them together. Rat became CS and causes CR of fear whenever albert saw rat. This fear then gen to other furry objects like a fur coat. (1)

Question 7

How is a phobia maintained thru operant conditioning? (2)

Answer 7

• phobias are maintained thru o.c
• bc by continuing to avoid feared stimulus, they are being neg reinforced by red anx they feel
• phobias are long lasting due to continued avoidance

Question 8

What are the three AO3 PEELS to evaluate the behavioural approach to explaining phobias?

Answer 8

Weakness - env reductionism - japan
Strength - prac apps - systematic desensitisation
RTS - dentistry