Learning Theories

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Phobias acquisition
- classical conditioning
- association of one stimulus (NS) with another (UCS)
- NS becomes a CS triggering a conditioned response (CS) of fear
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Phobias maintenance
- operant conditioning
- negative reinforcement : the removal of anxiety through avoidance
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Phobias social learning
- observational learning
- acquire phobias by imitating fear responses displayed by parents
- gender differences : fathers, unlikely to show visible fear; sons are less likely to acquire phobias
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Strengths - Little Albert & Treatments
- Watson & Rayner : 'Little Albert' conditioned response of fear when being shown a rat (NS) due to the loud background bang (UCS). Phobia - generalised on to other similar objects (small dogs)
- Knowledge led to the development of treatments, based on CC
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Weaknesses - reductionist, psychodynamic theory
reductionist explanation; develop phobias without conditioning/modelling (fear of guns)
-psychodynamic theory, high anxiety from a complex situation (trauma) is displaced onto a simpler object; useful in complex cases
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Systematic desensitisation
-list of situations (phobic stimulus) provoking
anxiety is derived, least to most frightening
taught to relax (counterconditioning)
-breathing exercises, mental imagery, meditation/ drugs (Valium)
- graduate exposure: success when calm in high anxiety sit
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Evaluation of SD :
(w) - benefits don't generalise to real-life spontaneous situations due to artificial setting
(s) - unlikely to backfire as exposure is gradual and the client has autonomy (would help them feel less anxious), unlike flooding
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Flooding
- immediate exp to CS
-longer, fewer sessions than SD (2-3h, 1 sess)
-no option of avoidance : realise phobic stimulus is harmless
- extinction : CS without UCS does not cause CR
-clients : informed consent, traumatic experience
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Evaluation of flooding
(s): - cost&time effective : compared to SD/cognitive therapies
(w): -unethical, exposure can backfire & enhance the phobia;
- not generally applicable : complex cases that involve trauma to be solved at a cognitive level
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Capafons et al 1998
Aims
- assess the effectiveness of SD in treatment of flying
- see if fear of flying is reduced spontaneously without treatment
- show that SD remains comparable to newer treatments
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Capafons et al 1998
Procedure (1)
- 41 adults : 24 fem, 17 male
- volunteer sampling (media campaign)
- matched for sex, age and anxiety levels
- control group : fear of flying 2 tested without treatment
- exp group : tested before and after treatment
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Capafons et al 1998
Procedure (2)
- Fear of flying scale' & 'Scales of Expectations of Dangers & Anxiety'
- Physiological measurements of muscle tension and heart rates when watching a flying videotape (sitting in armchair 1.8 m from screen)
- exp group : 12-15 one-hour sessions
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Capafons et al 1998
Procedure (3)
- self-listing of hierarchical situations of flying
- exposed to flying through their imagination, videotapes & real situations (at the end)
- ppts : taught breathing techniques, muscle relaxation, visualisation techniques - encourage relaxation
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Capafons et al 1998
Findings
- control group : no differences on any of the measures
- exp group : high reductions in self-reported & physiological anxiety except body temperature
- 90% treatment ppts : significant reduction in anxiety symptoms
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Capafons et al 1998
Conclusions
- SD : highly effective
- no evidence of spontaneous recovery without treatment
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Capafons et al 1998
Strengths
- high internal validity, controlled procedures (ppts matched on anxiety levels, physiological measurements), decreased risk of confounding variables
- credibility, scientific measure of assessment :
quantifiable data (scales) & objective test (heart rate
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Capafons et al 1998
Weaknesses
- low reliability : lack of standardised procedures (ppts made their own hierarchies, treatment sessions varied, personal imagination)
- generalisability : only people of moderate fear would volunteer to participate; unrepresentative of a harsh phobia
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

- operant conditioning
- negative reinforcement : the removal of anxiety through avoidance

Back

Phobias maintenance

Card 3

Front

- observational learning
- acquire phobias by imitating fear responses displayed by parents
- gender differences : fathers, unlikely to show visible fear; sons are less likely to acquire phobias

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

- Watson & Rayner : 'Little Albert' conditioned response of fear when being shown a rat (NS) due to the loud background bang (UCS). Phobia - generalised on to other similar objects (small dogs)
- Knowledge led to the development of treatments, based on CC

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

reductionist explanation; develop phobias without conditioning/modelling (fear of guns)
-psychodynamic theory, high anxiety from a complex situation (trauma) is displaced onto a simpler object; useful in complex cases

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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