Buttons phobia Flashcards
by Saavedra Silverman
Classical Conditioning
Learning through association, studied in both humans and animals
Phobia
smth that causes persistent yet unreasonable fear of an object/event (stimulus) the poses no real danger but creates anxiety in the sufferer.
Evaluative study
a form of classical conditioning wherein attitude towards a stimulus is thought to be the result of complex thought processes and emotions leading to a previously neutral stimulus to be perceived negatively. Such attitude is harder to change than superficial assumptions.
in button phobia by Saavedra Silverman what was the psychology being investigated?
classical conditioning .
operant conditioning.
Phobia.
evaluative learning.
What was the aim of the study button phobia?
Researchers wanted to see whether using a type of exposure therapy could reduce disgust and distress associated with buttons.
The boy’s button phobia began at the age of?
5
Describe Saavedra Silverman’s sample
9 year old, Hispanic-American boy.
Research method (button phobia)
CASE STUDY, observation, interviews, self report, feelings thermometer, longitudinal study.
Contingency management
a form of positive reinforcement, this was a behaviour focused approach where the boy was rewarded for showing less fear and actually handling buttons.
Effects on the boys daily life due to the phobia.
Couldn’t dress himself.
Couldn’t focus in school: preoccupied with buttons on his uniform and people wearing buttons.
imagery exposure therapy
Therapy in which the person is asked to visualise their feared object, situation and activity.
Results [ imagery exposure therapy ( button phobia)]
Subjective distress ratings decreased.
Results [contingency management (button phobia)]
Successful completion of all tasks.
Observed the buttons more positively. For eg, started handling more buttons.
subjective distress ratings increased, btw session 2 and 3. in session 4 previously lower feared buttons’ rating increased.
