Phobias A Level Psychology AQA

• What type of disorder are phobias classified as?

  Anxiety disorder
• How are phobias characterized?

  By high levels of irrational fearful anxiety in response to a particular stimulus or group of stimuli
• What is the impact of phobias on everyday life?

  They are maladaptive and disruptive to everyday life
• What behavior is commonly associated with phobias?

  A conscious avoidance of the stimulus
• What is the estimated occurrence rate of phobias in the population?

  About 10%
• Which gender has a higher incidence of phobias?

  Females
• When do most phobias originate?

  In childhood
• What categories of phobias are recognized by the DSM?

  • Simple/specific phobias
  • Social phobias
  • Agoraphobia
• What are simple/specific phobias?

  Fears of specific things and environments
• What do social phobias involve?

  Being over-anxious in certain situations, like speaking in public
• What is agoraphobia?


  The fear of leaving home or a safe space
• What is the purpose of the DSM?

  It is a guide for the diagnosis of mental disorders
• What are the four categories of specific phobias?

  1. Animal phobias
  2. Medical phobias
  3. Situational phobias
  4. Environmental phobias
• Are phobias always formally diagnosed?

  No, most people with a phobia are aware of the problem
• What might a person with a phobia choose to do?

  Live with the phobia and avoid the object or situation
• Who may a GP refer a person struggling with a phobia to?

  A specialist with expertise in behavioral therapy
• Can people refer themselves to NHS talking therapies services?

  Yes, without a referral from a GP
• What are the three categories of characteristics of phobias?

  • Behavioral characteristics
  • Emotional characteristics
  • Cognitive characteristics
• What do behavioral characteristics of phobias include?

  How individuals act in response to the phobia
• What do emotional characteristics of phobias include?

  How an individual feels in the presence of the phobia
• What do cognitive characteristics of phobias include?

  An individual's thoughts in the presence of the phobia
• What are the three types of behaviors associated with phobias?

  • Panic Behavior
  • Avoidance Behavior
  • Endurance Behavior
• What is avoidance behavior in phobias?


  Efforts to avoid coming into contact with the phobic stimulus
• What is endurance behavior in phobias?


  Choosing to remain in the presence of the phobic stimulus but often freezing
• What is panic behavior in phobias?

  Panic responses such as crying, screaming, fainting, and running away
• What feelings are present in the presence of a phobic stimulus?

  • Anxiety: high arousal, prevents relaxation
  • Fear: immediate unpleasant response
• How do feelings of anxiety and fear in phobias differ?

  Anxiety is a prolonged state, while fear is an immediate response
• What are cognitive characteristics concerned with in phobias?

  Ways in which people process information
• What is the two-process model of phobia acquisition?

  • Suggests all behaviors are learned from the environment
  • Classical conditioning explains initiation
  • Operant conditioning explains maintenance
• What does classical conditioning explain in the context of phobias?

  The initiation of phobias
• What does operant conditioning explain in the context of phobias?

  The maintenance of phobias
• What was the Little Albert experiment about?

  • Conducted by Watson and Rayner
  • Exposed a child to various stimuli
  • Paired a loud noise with a white rat to induce fear
• What was the initial reaction of Little Albert to the stimuli?

  He showed no fear of any of the objects
• What happened after Little Albert was exposed to the loud noise paired with the rat?


  He began to cry simply after seeing the rat
• How would the classical conditioning diagram demonstrate the acquisition of phobias?

  It would show the pairing of an unconditioned stimulus with a neutral stimulus to create a conditioned response
• What does operant conditioning explain in relation to phobias?

  It explains why phobias are maintained through avoidance or escape behaviors.
• What is negative reinforcement in the context of phobias?


  Negative reinforcement is the removal of an unpleasant outcome that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.
• How does Mowrer's suggestion relate to the maintenance of phobias?

  Mowrer suggested that avoiding a phobic stimulus allows individuals to escape fear and anxiety, reinforcing avoidance behavior.
• What happens to Albert when he avoids rats due to his phobia?

  His avoidance reduces anxiety and makes him feel relaxed, reinforcing the avoidance behavior.
• What is the process of avoidance behavior in relation to phobias?

  • Avoidance leads to escape from anxiety.
  • This escape reinforces the avoidance behavior.
  • The phobia is maintained through repeated avoidance.