phobias (behaviour approach)

Question 1

what is a phobia?

Answer 1

An irrational fear.

Question 2

what are the three behavioural characteristics?

Answer 2

-avoidance
-endurance
-panic

Question 3

what are the three emotional characteristics?

Answer 3

-fear
-anxiety
-disproportionate response

Question 4

what are the three cognitive characteristics?

Answer 4

-selective attention
-irrational thinking
-cognitive distortion

Question 5

what are the behaviourist explanations of phobias?

Answer 5

Phobias are learnt behaviours from our environment; therefore, they can be unlearnt.

Question 6

two process model by Mower?

Answer 6

classical conditioning-association
operant conditioning- reinforcement

Question 7

evaluation for this two process model by mower?

Answer 7

-incomplete explanation as some phobias are innate.
-It cannot explain the phobias that have no trauma, there are other alternative explanations.
+good practical application to therapies like SD and flooding.
-reductionist explenation, humans are more complex.

Question 8

Systematic desensitisation:

Answer 8

1. anxiety hierarchy
2. relaxation
3. exposure

Question 9

evaluation of SD:

Answer 9

+ effective treatment
+ more acceptable
- long process

Question 10

Flooding:

Answer 10

Exposing a phobic stimulus immediately, (classical conditioning terms: this is extinction)

Question 11

evaluation of flooding:

Answer 11

+ cost effective
- high trauma so ethical issues
+ fast process
- can’t cure all phobias