AO3 explaining phobias

• importance of classical conditioning

  two process model is supported by research asking people about their phobias.

  Sue et al - people often recall a specific incident when their phobia appeared. agoraphobics more likely to explain their disorder in terms of a specific incident. arachnophobics more likely to explain their disorder by modelling
• incomplete explanation


  DiNardo et al - not everyone who is bitten by a dog develops a fear of dogs.

  diathesis-stress model = we inherit a genetic vulnerability for developing mental disorders, but the disorder will only manifest itself if triggered by a life event.
• support for social learning

  model acted as if he was in pain every time a buzzer sounded.

  later, participants who saw this showed an emotional reaction to the buzzer, demonstrating an acquired fear response.
• biological preparedness


  Seligman - geneticlly programmed to rapidly learn an association between potentially life-threatening stimuli and fear. people less likely to develop fears of modern objects like cars that are much more of a threat than spiders because they weren’t a threat in our evolutionary past.
• ignores cognitive factors


  phobias may develop as the consequence of irrational thinking.

  e.g. person in lift thinking “i could get trapped in here and die” may trigger a phobia.