Explaining Phobias

    Subdecks (3)

    Cards (7)

    • (AO1) Define phobias
      Type of anxiety disorder
      Characterised by intense fear
      Affects day-to-day life
      People recognise that their thoughts are irrational, but fear nonetheless
      They may also show avoidant behaviour e.g. running away from the fear OR avoiding places they expect it to be

      E.g. a person with a dog phobia will feel intense fear when around or even imagining a dog. They are aware their fear is irrational, so may let people they love near dogs, but they themselves are likely to avoid them; not going to parks or woods.
    • (AO1) Basic assumption + CC
      The behavioural explanation suggests that phobias are learned behaviours, typically acquired through experience.

      The development of a phobia occurs via classical conditioning, where a previously neutral stimulus becomes associated with a fear response.

      E.g. if a person is bitten by a dog (UCS), and experiences pain and fear (UCR), the sight of a dog (NS) may becomes a CS that elecits fear (CR) in the future.

      This can happen just after one traumatic event, known as one-trial learning. Als, the fear may generalise to similar stimuli, such as different breeds of dogs or even photos of dogs.

      CC = It is a process of learning through associating two stimuli together to condition [learn] a response
    • (AO1) Link in OC
      Once a phobia is established, it is maintained through operant conditioning.

      This involves negative reinforcement, where avoiding the phobic object/situation reduces anxiety felt by the individual, providing temporary relief, which acts as a reward.

      This reinforces avoidance behaviour, making the phobia persistent.

      E.g. someone with a dog phobia may cross the street to avoid passing one, reducing their fear in the moment and thus strengthens their avoidance & phobia.

      OC = Learning through reinforcements (positive/negative) as well as punishments
    • (AO3) Explain a strength of behavioural explanations of phobias
      Point: There is research evidence supporting the behavioural explanation that phobias are developed through experience.

      Evidence: Watson & Rayner (1920) study demonstrated the process of classical conditioning using 'Little Albert' who was conditioned to have a phobia of white rats. They intentionally created a phobia by pairing a loud bang noise (UCS) with a white rat (NS), leading Albert to show fear (UCR) when seeing the rat alone. Over time, Alber's fear generalised to other similar objects, e.g. white santa beard.

      Evaluate: Although the case suggests that a phobia can be developed by experience, it was a case study of one singular person, and involved intentional induction of high anxiety. This limits the generalisability of the findings, as it may not reflect how phobias naturally develop in real life.
    • (AO3) Explain a strength - RWA
      Point: A strength of the behavioural explanation of phobias is its RWA, as it has led to the development of effective therapies.

      Evidence: Behavioural principles such as counterconditioning underpins treatment like exposure therapy, including flooding and systematic desensitisation. These therapies are based on replacing the learned fear response with a relaxation response. Research shows they are around 75% effective, demonstrating that the behavioural model has practical value.

      Evaluate: This provides evidence for the behavioural explanation, as it has led to interventions that can significantly improve life quality for ppl with phobias, reinforcing that phobias can be learned and unlearned.
    • (AO3) Explain alternative explanation - EEA survival
      An alternative explanation to the behavioural approach is the evolutionary explanation, which suggests some phobias may be biologically preprepared rather than learned.

      Evidence: According to the concept of preparedness, we are more likely to fear things like heights, dangerous animals, or deep water since these would have posed real threats in the environment of evolutionary adaptation (EEA). Ppl who developed these fears were more likely to survive and reproduce, meaning these traits were passed down through genetics.

      Evaluate: Challenges the behavioural view, suggesting phobias are not solely a result of experience. Behaviourism may have overlooked the role of biology/evolution, especially more common phobias that may not require direct learning or traumatic events to develop.