Jahoda identified 6 criteria for what is ideal mental health. These include: Positive self attitudes, Accurate Perception of Reality, Personal Growth, Integration.
Behaviour is abnormal if it lacks these criteria

OCD - Have obsessions that are irrational therefore do not have an accurate perception of reality
Depression - Have low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness, therefore lack positive self-attitudes
Phobias - Suffers anxiety and panic in the presence of everyday objects, therefore lack integration.

Classical Conditioning suggests phobias are learnt through two stimuli paired together

Operant Conditioning suggests phobias are learnt through reinforcement

Stage 1: Before: UCS produces UCR, ie. the stimulus produces a response which is unlearned and natural. Such as being stung produces pain and fear.

Stage 2: During: A second new stimulus (NS) which originally produced no response is associated with the 1st stimulus(UCS).In phobias often one trial learning occurs which means it is not necessary for it to be repeated fro the association to be made. Such as the sting(UCS) might be associated with a wasp

Stage 3: After: The CS has been associated with the UCS to create a new CR. For example wasps(CS) which were tolerated before the sting, now produce a fear response by themselves(CS). A phobia of wasps has now been learnt

Operant conditioning explains why individuals continue to have phobias. according to this theory behaviour towards the phobia usually involves avoidance. Avoiding the phobia becomes a behaviour which is repeated as it is rewarding as it reduces anxiety and fear. Therefore avoidance acts as a negative reinforcement as it removes the unpleasant situation.

A person with anxiety will feel a reduction in fear if they decide to avoid a large social event. This avoidance results in the removal of the unpleasant anxiety. Avoidance behaviour therefore acts as a negative reinforcement as it removes fear

If an individual with social anxiety did attempt to go to a party and experienced a panic attack and therefore left, this person will see a reduction in there anxiety. This behaviour of leaving the party is therefore reinforced by a reduction in panic. Avoidance and escape negatively reinforce the social phobia and so it is repeated.

Phobias can be treated under the principles of classical conditioning.

Counter Conditioning replaces the learnt fear response with a relaxation response

Wolpe(1958) developed a technique where phobics were given an opportunity to learn that their feared stimulus poses no threat by gradually being exposed to it. It involves the patient being taught to associate the phobic stimulus with a new response of relaxation. The patient is taught relaxation techniques, then devises a fear hierarchy with the therapist. At the bottom is what they would feel most comfortable doing, this gradually builds up to what creates the most fear. The patient is then gradually exposed to each scenario. When they can remain calm, they move on to the next step, working up to the most feared situation

Instead of gradual exposure to a phobic stimulus, flooding involves forced and prolonged exposure to the fear in one session. This may be difficult to achieve in a therapy session, as it may be impractical to fill a room with snakes or spiders. Therefore in the mid 1960s a modified technique called implosion therapy was created involving patients being given detailed descriptions rather than actual experience.

Flooding works by replacing a fear response with relaxation. A persons fear response will activate the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system to release adrenaline into the. This causes an increase in heart rate and breathing. Once this state of bodily arousal has been reached, the parasympathetic branch will reverse these effects and adrenaline levels will decrease. A new stimulus-response relationship will have been learned between the phobic stimulus and relaxation.