Phobias

• Behavioural characteristics of phobias

  Panic = scream or run away

  Avoidance = conscious effort to avoid

  Endurance = may stay and bear it
• Emotional characteristics of phobias

  Anxiety = unpleasant state of high arousal

  Fear = short-lasting, more intense

  Emotional response is unreasonable/disproportionate to threat
• Cognitive characteristics of phobias

  Selective attention = can’t look away

  Irrational beliefs= unfounded beliefs

  Cognitive distortions = unrealistic
• Behavioural explanation of phobias

  Two process model of conditioning, Mowrer

  Acquisition of classical conditioning

  • UCS linked to NS, then both produce UCR (fear), now the CR

  Maintenance by operant conditioning

  • avoidance of phobic stimulus negatively reinforced by anxiety eduction, so the phobia is maintained
• Behavioural explanation evaluation

  +case study Little Albert conditioned to fear white fluffy objects

  +real world application, phobia treatment

  -fails to account for cognitive aspects of phobias
• Treatment of phobias - systematic desensitisation

  Anxiety hierarchy = a list of situations ranked for how much anxiety they produce

  Reciprocal inhibition = relaxation and anxiety can’t happen at the same time

  • relaxation techniques include imagery and/or breathing

  Exposed to phobic stimulus whilst relaxed at each stage of the anxiety hierarchy
• SD evaluation

  +evidence of effectiveness

  +complimentary to individuals with learning disabilities

  -training required, so takes time and money
• Treatment of phobias - flooding

  Exposes clients to a frightening situation without a build-up

  Works by extinction of the conditioned fear response

  Clients must give informed consent and be prepared for flooding
• Flooding evaluation

  +clinically effective and not expensive

  -unethical, can be traumatic