test 25.2.25 Flashcards
what is a phobia
a mental disorder characterised by high levels of anxiety in response to a particular stimulus or group of stimuli.
what are emotional characteristics of phobias
persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable - alongside panic and anxiety which are out of proportion to the danger posed.
what are the behavioural characteristics of phobias
avoidance - interferes with the persons normal living which is what distinguishes a phobia from a fear.
flight, fight or freeze response which is an adaptive response.
what are the cognitive characteristics of phobias
irrational thinking and resistance to rational arguments.
recognition that the fear is excessive or unreasonable.
what is ocd
an anxiety disorder in which anxiety arises from obsessions and compulsions. the compulsions are a response to the obsessive thoughts as the person believes the compulsions with reduce anxiety.
what are the emotional characteristics of ocd
anxiety and distress form the obsessions and compulsions
feelings of embarrasment or shame as they know their behaviour is excessive.
what are the cognitive characteristics of ocd
obsessions are recurrent intrusive thoughts that are perceived as inappropriate or forbidden.
these are seen as uncontrollable which creates anxiety and they are aware these thoguths are a product of their own mind.
what are the behavioural characteristics of ocd
compulsive behaviours reduce axiety from the obssessions - they are reppetitive and the persons feels they must perform them or soemthing bad might happen creating enxiety.
what is the behavioural approach to explaining phobias
the two process model:
- mowrer 1947 proposed the two process model to explain how phobias were learned. the first step is classical conditioning and he second step is operant conditioning.
classical conditioning: initiation
- phobias are acquired through association between a neutral stimulus and and an unconditioned fear response being paired together with a conditioned response being learned.
operant conditioning: maintenance
- avoidance reduces fear which reinforces the phobia. this an example of negative reinforcement.
social learning:
- phobias may be acquired through modelling behaviour of others.
a strength of the behavioural explanation to explaining phobias
supported by research into phobias. demonstrating the role of classical conditioning in developing phobias but other processes may be involved in maintenance.
a weakness of the behavioural explanation to explaining phobias
phobias are not always formed after traumatic events - this suggests the behavioural approach cannot explain all phobias
