Psychology- Phobias
Phobias
- Created by: Sam
- Created on: 03-04-10 20:11
What is a phobia?
A Phobia is an IRRATIONAl and PERSISTENT fear that means we try and avoid it
Different things to have a phobia of
Fear of open spaces
Fear of spiders
Fear of confined spaces
Fear of heights
Fear of foreigners
Fear of school
Classical conditioning
This theory says that we learn our phobia from being conditioned to not like it over and over again
Pavlov's dog
Pavlov's dog was conditioned to salivate when a bell was rung...
Dog was shown food...salivated
Dog heard bell...no response
Dog was shown food AND heard bell...salivated
*Repeated*
Dog heard bell...salivated
Little Albert
Little Albert was a baby who was conditioned to cry when shown a white rat
Little Albert plays with white rat...no response
Little Albert hears a loud bang...cries
Little albert plays with white rat AND hears a loud bang...cries
*Repeated*
Little Albert plays with white rat...cries
Evaluation of Little Albert experiment
Was Considered unethical...due to the fact that they had psychologically harmed the small child AND the fear was generalised
Generalisation
A fear can be generalised to other similar objects...
e.g. Little Albert (white rat)..fear generalised to other white fluffy things..(teddy bear, cotton wool etc.)
Extinction
Just as a fear can be learnt...it can also be unlearnt! This is called extinction
Operant Conditioning
This theory suggests that phobias are learnt through the consequences of our actions...this is called REINFORCEMENT and PUNISHMENT
Positive Reinforcement
When the behaviour brings pleasant consequences for the individual they are likely to repeat the behaviour
Negative Reinforcement
When the behaviour stops something unpleasant then this is called Negative reinforcement
Avoidance Learning
This is when the person tries to stay away from the thing that they dislike
Punishment
If someone dislikes going into public becaue of a lack of self confidence then when they are around people it brings a negative feeling for them that feels somewhat like 'punishment' this strengthens there dislike and may create a phobia
Evaluation of classical conditioning
What behaviour can be conditioned?
Reflexive/automatic
Why does learning occur?
Two stimuli have been presented together
How certain is behaviour?
Stimulus always produces response
Can new behaviour be created?
No
Evaluation of operant conditioning
What behaviour can be conditioned?
Random/voluntary
Why does this learning occur?
Because of consequences of behaviour
How certain is behaviour?
Behaviour probable but not certain
Can new behaviour be created?
Yes
Alternative explanations
Preparedness
That we are sensitive to those things that our ancestors would have been prepared for danger that could be dangerous. it also occurs if the person has little or no experience of the situation that they are in.
Social learning theory
Observation
A child watches her older brother's behaviour when he finds a spider in the bath.
Imitation
The child sees a spider and imitates the behaviour of her brother, is comforted by mother
Reinforcement
When the little girl copies her brothers actions, she is consoled by her mother.
Evaluation of alternative theories for phobias
These theories can determine why people would get a phobia without coming into direct contact with the feared object or situation.
Psychoanalytic theory and phobias
id
This contains the sexual and agressive energies that we are born with, these instincts are buried in our unconscious. this desire needs to be satisfied immediatly
ego
starts developing around 3 years old, we begin to realise that we cannot have all of our needs satisfied, but still tries to get it. The role of the ego is to control the urgent demands of the id and the restraints of the superego.
superego
develops around the age of 6, is the moral part of our personality, lives in our unconscious
Psychoanalytic ego relating to phobias
Repression
Is where we force the memories of distress or conflict into our unconscious, where they remain unresolved. for example, the fear of agraphobia (fear of open spaces) may be because the child was left alone as a child. this distress has been repressed.
Displacement
Is where we transfer our negative feelings (such as aggression, jealousy or fear) onto something that will not harm us. for example: a psychoanalytic explanation for xenophobia could be that the individual hated his father so, because he was unable to express this feeling to the father, the fear was displaced to foreigners. the individual feels as if he can express his feelings to foreigners more than he can to his father
Projection
In which unacceptabe feelings are attributed to someone else, ^^ might project his feelings onto foreigners and now sees them as people who are fearful and harmful.
Evaluation of Psycholanalytic theory of phobias
Freud's theory can explain the powerful emotions that people experience with a phobia. This theory can also explain why people can be phobic of objects or situations without direct experience of it.
However, because the conflicts are in the unconscious, it means that it is not possible to be sure that these are the causes of phobias.
It also fails to exlplain why other people who may have been left alone as a child or who hatd there father's have no phobias.
Related discussions on The Student Room
- What is your Method to remembering AO3 Evaluation Points in Psychology? »
- AQA A-level psychology help »
- psychology alevel »
- Handsome but Shy »
- Mental health »
- Edexcel A-level Psychology Paper 3 (9PS0 03) - 5th June 2023 [Exam Chat] »
- essay help needed !!! :) »
- The Mindful Minor »
- LSE / University of Warwick / University of Bath »
- Psychology Question AQA »
Comments
Report
Report
Report