The behaviourist approach to phobias

• What is the behaviorist approach to phobias?

  • Explains phobias through learned behavior
  • Involves classical and operant conditioning
  • Focuses on environmental interactions
• What are the two main types of conditioning discussed?

  Classical and operant conditioning
• What does the two process model suggest about phobias?

  Phobias are acquired and maintained through conditioning
• Who proposed the two process model?

  Maura
• How are phobias initially acquired according to the two process model?

  Through classical conditioning
• What is a neutral stimulus in classical conditioning?

  An object that initially causes no response
• What is an unconditioned stimulus?

  A stimulus that naturally produces a response
• What happens when a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus?

  It becomes a conditioned stimulus
• What is a conditioned response?

  A learned response to a conditioned stimulus
• How can phobias be generalized?

  By experiencing fear from similar stimuli
• What is operant conditioning?

  Learning through the consequences of actions
• How does avoidance behavior affect phobias?

  It reinforces the phobia by reducing anxiety
• Describe Laura's phobia of bees using the two process model.

  • Acquired through classical conditioning
  • Stung by a bee, leading to fear
  • Avoids bees, reinforcing her phobia
• What does it mean when someone fails to function due to a phobia?

  It impacts their daily social life
• What classic research demonstrated phobia acquisition through association?

  Little Albert study by Watson
• What was the result of Watson's experiment with Little Albert?

  Albert developed a phobic response to a rat
• What does generalization mean in the context of phobias?

  Fear response extends to similar objects
• What did Dinardo's research suggest about dog phobias?

  Conditioning events were common in both groups
• What did Mendes and Clark find regarding children's water phobias?

  Most children couldn't recall negative experiences
• What is a limitation of the behaviorist approach to phobias?

  It doesn't explain all phobia cases
• Why are phobias of snakes and spiders common?

  They relate to evolutionary survival instincts
• What are effective therapies developed from the behaviorist approach?

  • Flooding
  • Systematic desensitization
  • Both aim to replace fear with relaxation
• What principle do flooding and systematic desensitization share?

  Phobias are learned associations
• What is reciprocal inhibition?

  Fear and relaxation are opposing emotions
• How does systematic desensitization begin?

  With relaxation techniques for the client
• What is an anxiety hierarchy?

  A list of feared situations with phobic objects
• What is the final stage of systematic desensitization?

  Holding the phobic object without fear
• How does flooding work to treat phobias?

  By immediate exposure to the phobic stimulus
• What is a risk of flooding therapy?

  Reinforcing the phobia if not done correctly
• Why might flooding be quicker than systematic desensitization?

  It involves immediate exposure to fears
• What is a limitation of both flooding and systematic desensitization?

  Effectiveness may not generalize to real life
• Why are drugs considered an alternative treatment for phobias?

  They lower anxiety and reduce phobic response
• What is a drawback of using drugs for phobias?

  They are temporary solutions with side effects
• What did Garcia Palacitos find about VR exposure therapy?

  83% showed significant improvement with VR
• What resources are available for further learning on phobias?

  • Over 170 videos on psych boost.com
  • Bonus resources for Patreon supporters
  • Tutorial videos and Discord Channel