Phobias (psychopathology)

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What is the definition of a phobia?
A phobia is an irrational fear of an object or situation, the extent of the fear is out of proportion to any real danger presented by the phobic stimulus.
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How long does a fear need to go on for to be classified as a phobia?
6 months or more.
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what are the 3 categories of phobias and what do they mean?
Specific Phobia = object or situation (e.g. spiders). Social phobia = social situation (speaking in front of people). Agoraphobia = Phobia of open spaces.
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What are the 3 behavioural characteristics of a phobia?
Panic = panic in response to phobic stimulus. Avoidance = a lot of effort put in to avoid coming into contact with phobic stimulus. Endurance = alternative to avoidance. Sufferer remains in presence of phobic stimulus.
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What are the 2 emotional characteristics of a phobia?
Anxiety = Unpleasant state of high arousal (can't relax). Emotional responses are unreasonable.
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What are the 3 cognitive characteristics of a phobia?
Selective Attention = Hard to look away from phobic stimulus, gives us best chance to react quickly if a threat comes about but isn't useful when phobia is irrational. Irrational beliefs. Cognitive Distortions = persons perception is distorted.
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Which behaviourist came up with the Two Process Model as a way of explaining Phobias?
Halbart Mowrer (1960) - stated that phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and hen continue because of operant conditioning.
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How do we acquire a phobia?
Classical conditioning - learning to associate something we initially have no fear of with something that triggers a fear response.
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Give an example of CC in relation to phobias.
Fear of bees. Sting (UCS) = fear (UCR). Sting + Bee (NS) = Fear. Bee (CS) = Fear (CR).
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Give 1 case study that has been used to provide evidence for CC and phobias.
Little Albert - developed a phobia of white fluffy things due to associating them with a loud bang.
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How do we maintain a phobia?
Whenever we avoid a phobic stimulus we successfully escapee the fear we would of suffered if we had stayed. The reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour so the phobia is maintained.
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Give 3 strengths of the Two Process Model.
1. Good explanatory power. 2. Important implications for treatment of phobias (similar cause). 3. Research support - Little Albert.
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Give 2 limitations of the Two Process Model.
1. Ignore mind and thinking - 2 people can have same experience but may not form a phobia. 2. Assume you need a direct experience with stimulus but doesnt explain how someone can develop a phobia of something they have never come into contact with
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What else could phobias be explained by?
Social Learning theory - Observing and imitating role models like parents. May explain why phobias appear to run in families.
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What is systematic desensitisation as a treatment for phobias?
Fear response replaced with relaxation. Patient is trained in relaxation techniques. Patient and therapist create 'anxiety hierarchy'.
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How does an anxiety hierarchy work for treating phobias?
The patient relaxes and imagines the least frightening case (i.e. a picture of a snake), when the patient can imagine this without feeling any anxiety, the next most frightening thing is imagined. This carries on until the patient reaches the top.
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What is flooding as a treatment for phobias?
Involves overwhelming the individuals senses with the item or situation that causes anxiety so that the person realises that no harm will occur and there is no objective basis for the fear.
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What are the steps for flooding?
1. Patient is exposed to object/situation that causes anxiety. 2. The patient is initially overwhelmed and very fearful but this subsides. 3. Patient recognises anxiety levels have dropped and there is no reason for their phobia.
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Card 2

Front

How long does a fear need to go on for to be classified as a phobia?

Back

6 months or more.

Card 3

Front

what are the 3 categories of phobias and what do they mean?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What are the 3 behavioural characteristics of a phobia?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What are the 2 emotional characteristics of a phobia?

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Preview of the front of card 5
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