Phobias

• What is a phobia?

  characterized by excessive fear and anxiety, triggered by an object, place or situation. The extent of the fear is out of proportion to any real danger presented by the phobic stimulus.
• Evaluate the two process model

  +: real world application- used in exposure therapies( eg SD)

  once avoidance behaviour is prevented, it ceases to be reinforced by the experience of anxiety reduction and avoidance therefore declines.

  +; scientific and key principles can be measured in an objective way 

  eg little albert- variables can be  manipulated and controlled to ensure Little Alberts phobia development was a result of the neutral stimulus. 
• Give the + and - reinforcers within operant conditioning in phobias

  -: avoidance of phobic stimulus reduces fear which reinforces behaviour.

  +: no anxiety created by avoidance
• What does Mourer(1947) suggest?

  phobias are acquired through two process model.
• Give the procedure of the Little Albert study 

  -Original unconditioned stimulus(UCS): elicists a reflexive response(the loud noise)

  2.unconditioned response(UCR)- natural reaction to a given stimulus(fear)

  3. the fear response became conditioned after repeatedly being paired with an UCS(the white rat)
• How is classical conditioning and phobias interlinked?

  -fears are acquired when an individual associates a neutral stimulus with a fear response.