Phobia – Psychological Theories

• Phobias are acquired through learning from the environment

– Classical conditioning– Operant conditioning– Social learning

• Two process theory of phobia1. Acquisition of phobia

2. Maintenance of phobic behaviour

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Initial Acquisition

• 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

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psyc

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org.

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Maintenance

• 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

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psyc

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org.

uk

Phobia

• 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

www.

psyc

hlot

ron.

org.

uk