4.4.1 Acquisition of Phobias

• What is a phobia, and how does it differ from a fear?

  Intense, irrational fear vs moderate, adaptive anxiety
• A phobia is an intense, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity
• In phobias, there is no real danger present, unlike fears where potential threats exist.
• Match the learning theory with its role in phobia acquisition:

  Classical Conditioning ↔️ Association of neutral stimulus with fear

  Social Learning Theory ↔️ Observation of fear in others
• How does classical conditioning explain phobia acquisition?

  Neutral stimulus triggers fear response
• Individuals can develop phobias by observing others experience fear or anxiety
• What are some physical symptoms associated with phobias?

  Sweating, rapid heart rate
• Phobias can be learned through social learning theory by observing others express fear.
• In classical conditioning, the frightening event is referred to as the unconditioned stimulus
• How does negative reinforcement maintain phobias?

  Avoidance reduces anxiety
• What is one learning theory that accounts for phobia acquisition?

  Classical Conditioning
• Classical conditioning involves the association of a neutral stimulus with a frightening event
• Match the key concepts of classical conditioning with their definitions:

  Neutral Stimulus (NS) ↔️ Initially causes no fear

  Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) ↔️ Naturally triggers fear

  Unconditioned Response (UCR) ↔️ The natural fear response

  Conditioned Stimulus (CS) ↔️ The NS that triggers fear
• What is the conditioned stimulus in the arachnophobia example described in the text?

  Spiders
• Phobias can be learned through social learning theory by observing others' fears or anxieties
• What is an example of social learning theory in phobia acquisition?

  Fear of heights
• Steps involved in classical conditioning in phobia acquisition:

  1️⃣ Initial State: NS causes no fear

  2️⃣ Pairing: UCS is paired with the NS

  3️⃣ Association: The NS becomes the CS

  4️⃣ Conditioned Response: The CS triggers the CR
• In the example of classical conditioning, what is the conditioned stimulus that triggers fear?

  Dogs
• Operant conditioning maintains phobias through negative reinforcement
• Avoiding a phobic stimulus reduces anxiety, reinforcing avoidance behavior
• What behavior reinforces arachnophobia in the example provided?

  Avoiding spiders
• Observational learning, also known as social learning, involves learning by watching and imitating others' behaviors
• Processes involved in observational learning in phobia acquisition:

  1️⃣ Attention

  2️⃣ Retention

  3️⃣ Reproduction

  4️⃣ Motivation
• How can a child develop a fear of spiders through observational learning?

  By seeing a fearful parent