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EXPLAINING PHOBIAS - Coggle Diagram
EXPLAINING PHOBIAS
certain stimuli
'Biological preparedness' offers an alternative explanation proposes that animals (including humans) are genetically programmed to rapidly learn an association between life threatening stimulus and fear
these stimuli are know as ancient fears that would of been dangerous in the past and that fear is adaptive to survival
The two process model cannot explain why we seem to be pre-prepared to fear certain stimuli e.g. heights, spiders, snakes
biological preparedness explains why people are less likely to develop fears of modern objects ie. cars which are more of a threat than spiders.
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Real world application
SD and Flooding are based on the idea of counter conditioning, and breaking down the association between the stimulus and fear, replacing it with a positive association.
these exposure therapies also prevents the ppts from practicing the avoidance response. phobias are maintained by avoidance of the phobic stimulus. once the avoidance behaviour is prevented the behaviour stops being reinforced and therefore the phobic response begins to decline.
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Cognitive aspects
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the two process model focuses on the behavioural elements towards explaining behaviours. the key behaviour in the two process model is the avoidance response of the phobic stimulus.
however, phobias are not just avoidance responses, there is a significant cognitive component . it odes not expose irrational beliefs about about phobic stimulus (such as thinking that a spider is dangerous)
the two process model explains avoidance behaviour but does not offer an adequate explanation for phobic cognitions.
research support
the case of little albert (Warson and Rayner 1920s) supports the two process model as they were able to condition Albert to develop a fear of white fluffy animals/objects by pairing a previously neutral stimulus (white rat) with an anxiety provoking stimulus, a UCS (a loud noise)
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