Phobia%20

1
Phobia Psychological Theories
www.psychlotron.org.uk

• Phobias are acquired through learning from the
  environment
• Classical conditioning
• Operant conditioning
• Social learning
• Two process theory of phobia
• Acquisition of phobia
• Maintenance of phobic behaviour

2
Initial Acquisition
www.psychlotron.org.uk

• Through classical conditioning (direct)
• Traumatic experience e.g. get bitten by a dog
• False alarm e.g. have a panic attack in a lift
• Through social learning (vicarious)
• Observe fear in another e.g. parent
• Hear about danger from another

3
Maintenance
www.psychlotron.org.uk

• Through operant conditioning
• Approaching phobic object/situation elicits
  conditioned anxiety response
• Retreat from phobic object reduces anxiety
• This acts as a (negative) reinforcer, so the more
  the person avoids the phobic object/situation the
  more likely they will continue to do so.
• Others may unwittingly reinforce avoidance

4
Phobia
www.psychlotron.org.uk

• Hypotheses from learning theory
• Phobias should be traceable to an original
  learning experience
• Should centre on situations/objects that are
  potentially harmful
• Should be possible to condition and decondition
  phobias artificially