phobias

• Behavioural Characteristics


  Panic:

  • crying, freezing(children), screaming, sweating

  Avoidance:

  • can interfere with work, education & social life

  Endurance:

  • remaining in prescence of phobic stimulus
  • high lvls of anxiety
  • unavoidable
• Phobia


  An irrational fear of an object or situation
• Emotional Characteristics


  Anxiety:

  • phobia = anxiety disorder
  • unable to relax
  • can be long-term

  Excessive & Unreasonable Response:

  • triggered by presence/anticipation of phobic stimulus
  • disproportionate to the danger posed
• Cognitive Characteristics


  Selective Attention:

  • hard to look away
  • useful in actual danger
  • not useful if fear irrational
  • cognitive abilities for other tasks reduced

  Irrational Beliefs:

  • increase pressure in phobic situation
  • eg: 'I should always sound intelligent' in social situations

  Cognitive Distortions:

  • phobics perception of stimulus is distorted
  • eg: 'belly buttons ugly & disgusting' (omphalophobic)
• What are the three categories of phobias recognized by the DSM?

  • Specific phobia
  • Social anxiety/social phobia
  • Agoraphobia
• What is a phobia?

  An irrational fear of an object or situation
• What is the difference between anxiety and fear in the context of phobias?

  Anxiety is long-term, while fear is an immediate response to the phobic stimulus.
• What characterizes all phobias?

  Excessive fear and anxiety triggered by an object, place, or situation.
• What are the three main causes of abnormal behavior according to the behavioral approach?

  1. Classical conditioning
  2. Operant conditioning
  3. Social learning theory
• What were the results of the Little Albert experiment?

  Albert began to cry whenever he was shown the rat after conditioning.
• What types of fears can phobias include?

  Phobias can include both rational fears, like flying, and irrational fears.
• What are some behavioral characteristics of phobias?

  • Panic (crying, screaming, running away)
  • Avoidance (interfering with daily life)
  • Endurance (remaining in presence but feeling anxious)
• What was the aim of the Little Albert experiment by Watson and Rayner?

  To investigate whether a fear response could be learned through classical conditioning in humans.
• What are irrational beliefs in the context of phobias?

  Beliefs that increase pressure in phobic situations, like "I must always sound intelligent."
• What are cognitive distortions in phobias?

  They are distorted perceptions of the phobic stimulus, such as "Belly buttons are ugly."
• What is the aim of the additional essay assignment related to phobias?

  To describe and evaluate the behavioral approach to explaining phobias.
• What are the steps involved in systematic desensitization?

  1. Fear hierarchy
  2. Relaxation training
  3. Reciprocal inhibition
• What is the two-process model proposed by Mowrer?

  It explains how phobias are learned through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning.
• What is the purpose of the fear hierarchy in systematic desensitization?

  To rank situations involving the phobic stimulus from least to most anxiety-inducing.
• How does classical conditioning contribute to the acquisition of phobias?

  It involves associating a neutral stimulus with something that triggers a fear response.
• What conclusion was drawn from the Little Albert experiment?

  A fear response could be induced through classical conditioning in humans.
• What is the process of maintenance by operant conditioning in phobias?

  • Responses acquired by classical conditioning can decline over time.
  • Phobias are maintained through negative reinforcement by avoiding the phobic stimulus.
• What is a strength of flooding as a treatment for phobias?

  It is cost-effective and can quickly free patients from their symptoms.
• What is negative reinforcement in the context of phobias?

  Avoiding the phobic stimulus reduces anxiety, making avoidance more likely.
• What is relaxation training in systematic desensitization?

  Teaching the patient to relax deeply using techniques like breathing exercises or imagery.
• What ethical considerations must be taken into account with flooding treatment?

  • Patients must give fully informed consent.
  • Flooding can be traumatic for the patient.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of flooding?

  Strengths:

  • Cost-effective and quick results.

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Can be traumatic for patients.
  • High dropout rates due to discomfort.
• What are the three types of characteristics associated with phobias?

  • Behavioral characteristics
  • Emotional characteristics
  • Cognitive characteristics
• What is selective attention in relation to phobias?

  It is hard to look away from the phobic stimulus, which can be useful in danger.
• What is reciprocal inhibition in the context of systematic desensitization?

  It is the theory that two emotional states cannot exist at the same time, such as anxiety and relaxation.
• What does flooding involve in treating phobias?

  Exposing the patient to the phobic stimulus immediately rather than gradually.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of systematic desensitization?

  Strengths:

  • Effective for specific phobias.
  • Suitable for a wide range of patients.

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Less effective for social phobias.
  • Requires understanding of the process.