Questions and Answers
What is a phobia?
Anxiety disorder which interferes with daily living.
What percentage of the whole population of the UK had phobias in 2009?
2.6%
What is one diagnostic feature of phobias?
Intense, persistent fear of a particular object, event, or situation.
What is another diagnostic feature of phobias?
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How severe must fear be to interfere with everyday life in phobias?
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What condition may accompany phobias?
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How does fear feel in the context of phobias?
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What are some types of specific phobias?
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What are some types of social phobias?
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Are phobias more common in men or women?
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At what stage of life is social phobia common?
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At what age is agoraphobia more common?
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What does behaviorism explain?
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What theory did Ivan Pavlov propose?
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What does classical conditioning involve?
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What is operant conditioning?
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What is one evaluation point regarding flooding and systematic desensitization (SD)?
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What does flooding in behavioral therapy involve?
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What are the two forms of flooding?
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What are the three critical parts of systematic desensitization?
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What type of learning does classical conditioning represent?
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Who proposed that psychology should be the study of behavior rather than the mind?
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Study Notes
Phobias Overview
- Phobia is an anxiety disorder that disrupts daily life.
- Statistics indicate 2.6% of the UK population experienced phobias in 2009, equating to approximately 1.62 million people.
Diagnostic Features of Phobias
- Characterized by intense and persistent fear triggered by specific objects, events, or situations.
- Responses are disproportionate, leading to avoidance behavior concerning the phobic trigger.
- Fear severity can hinder everyday functioning.
- Associated symptoms may include panic attacks, which involve rapid heartbeat and flushed skin.
Types of Phobias
- Specific Phobias: Include fears of animals, bodily functions (like blood), events (such as flying), and situations (like enclosed spaces).
- Social Phobias: Involve fears related to social interactions, public speaking, attending parties, meeting new individuals, or answering questions.
Demographics and Prevalence
- Phobias are more prevalent in women, particularly agoraphobia.
- Social phobias commonly emerge during adolescence.
- Agoraphobia predominantly affects middle-aged individuals.
Behavioral Theories
- Behaviorism explains human behavior as a result of learned responses.
- Ivan Pavlov is known for developing the concept of classical conditioning, which centers on forming associations to predict events.
Conditioning Types
- Classical Conditioning: Involves linking two or more stimuli to anticipate an event. For instance, a child’s near-drowning experience could lead to a fear of water (aquaphobia).
- Operant Conditioning: Focuses on behavior modification through reinforcement, including positive reinforcement (rewards) and negative reinforcement (avoidance of unpleasant consequences).
Evaluating Conditioning and Phobias
- Classical conditioning effectively explains specific phobias but struggles with agoraphobia and social phobia.
- Dinardo's findings show that many individuals bitten by dogs do not subsequently develop a phobia, challenging strict conditioning explanations.
Behavioral Treatments for Phobias
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Systematic Desensitization (SD): A therapeutic technique aimed at unlearning maladaptive responses through reverse counter-conditioning.
- Key components: Fear hierarchy, relaxation training, and reciprocal inhibition.
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Flooding: An extreme therapy method where patients face their phobia immediately, preventing avoidance behavior and negative reinforcement.
- Types of flooding:
- In vivo (actual exposure).
- In vitro (imaginary exposure).
- Types of flooding:
Treatment Comparison
- SD is time-consuming but often effective over a longer duration.
- Flooding provides quicker results but should be treated with caution, as it may not be suitable for all individuals.
Learning Behavior Perspectives
- John Watson asserted that psychology should focus on observable behavior instead of the mind, suggesting that all behaviors, whether normal or abnormal, can be understood through learned responses.
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Description
This quiz covers fundamental concepts related to phobias, including definitions, statistics, and diagnostic features. Explore the psychological aspects and the impact of phobias on daily living through classical conditioning. Test your knowledge with these flashcards!