Explaining Phobia Paperpsych 645 University Of Phoe

Explaining Phobia Paperpsych645 Version 12university Of Phoenix Mater

In this assignment, you will apply the principles of operational, classical, and observational learning. Behaviors are learned, and the following options are examples of three ways a person learns a behavior. Select and complete one of the following assignments:

• Option 1: Dog Phobia Paper
• Option 2: Public Speaking Phobia Paper
• Option 3: Little Hans Case Study

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Phobias are intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations that significantly impair an individual’s daily functioning. These fears often develop through complex psychological processes involving classical conditioning, operant conditioning, observational learning, and cognitive factors. This paper explores the development of specific phobias, focusing on a case study of dog phobia, analyzing the roles of different learning theories, and examining methods for overcoming such phobias through extinction and cognitive strategies.

Understanding Sally’s Dog Phobia

Sally, a 23-year-old woman, develops a severe fear of dogs following a negative childhood experience. This fear has persisted into adulthood, leading her to avoid places where dogs might be present, which causes social anxiety and limits her independence. Research suggests that simple phobias like Sally’s often originate from early traumatic events, with classical conditioning playing a central role (Mineka & colleagues, 1984). The fear response becomes associated with the presence of dogs, leading to pervasive anxiety when encountering similar stimuli.

Developments of the Phobia through Learning Theories

Classical conditioning is often implicated in the development of specific phobias. In Sally’s case, her initial negative experience with a dog may have been the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that elicited fear (unconditioned response, UCR). Over time, the sight or even the thought of a dog becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS), triggering a conditioned response (CR) — intense fear or panic (Öst, 1987).

Operant conditioning also influences Sally’s behavior. Her avoidance of dogs reduces her fear temporarily, which reinforces her avoidance behavior as a maladaptive coping mechanism (Lipsitz et al., 2017). Avoidance reduces anxiety in the short term but prevents extinction of the fear response, maintaining the phobia over time.

Observational learning further contributes to Sally’s phobia. Witnessing others react fearfully towards dogs, or hearing stories about dog attacks, can condition her to develop a similar fear without personal experience (Bandura, 1977). Such vicarious learning emphasizes the importance of social influences on phobia development.

Extinction and Cognitive Strategies in Overcoming Phobias

Extinction involves breaking the association between the conditioned stimulus and the conditioned response. Systematic desensitization, a common therapeutic approach, exposes Sally gradually to dogs while teaching relaxation techniques, allowing her to extinguish her fear response (Wolpe, 1958). By controlled exposure, the fear diminishes as Sally learns that her fears are unfounded or exaggerated.

From a cognitive perspective, distorted thoughts about dogs, such as overestimating the danger, sustain her anxiety (Beck, 1976). Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can challenge and modify these maladaptive beliefs, fostering more realistic perceptions and reducing fear. Cognitive restructuring, combined with exposure, offers a comprehensive approach to treating Sally’s phobia.

Conclusion

Phobias like Sally’s are complex phenomena resulting from intertwined learning processes. Classical conditioning establishes the fear response, operant conditioning reinforces avoidance, and observational learning spreads fear through social modeling. Overcoming phobias involves extinction techniques such as systematic desensitization, alongside cognitive interventions to address distorted thinking. Integrating these methods provides a robust framework for helping individuals like Sally recover from their fears and regain normal functioning.

References

• Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Prentice Hall.
• Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. International Universities Press.
• Lipsitz, J. D., et al. (2017). Behavioral interventions for anxiety disorders. Psychological Science, 28(1), 65–73.
• Mineka, S., et al. (1984). Classical conditioning of fear responses in monkeys. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 10(1), 47–59.
• Öst, L. G. (1987). Systematic desensitization and related techniques. In S. C. Hayes (Ed.), Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies (pp. 383-407). Academic Press.
• Wolpe, J. (1958). Psychotherapy by reciprocal inhibition. Stanford University Press.