AQA Psychology – Phobias Exam Questions and Answers

AQA Psychology – Phobias Exam Questions and Answers What is a phobia? - Answer-An anxiety disorder involving irrational fears and avoidance of phobic stimuli Cognitive characteristics of phobias - Answer-Fear is not helped by logical argument Acknowledgement of unreasonableness of the fear Emotional characteristics of phobias - Answer-Fear, anxiety and panic caused by phobic stimuli Behavioural characteristics of phobias - Answer-Avoidance of phobic stimuli, even if it disrupts life Excessive reactions to phobic stimuli e.g. fainting What are the two explanations of phobias? - Answer-Two Process Model and the SLT explanation Outline the Two Process Model explanation of phobias - Answer-Created by Mowrer 2 stages: classical and operant conditioning Classical conditioning - Initiation Phobia develops through association between a UCS that naturally causes fear and a NS Operant conditioning - Maintenance Phobia is maintained through negative reinforcement Avoiding phobic stimuli reduces uncomfortable feelings (e.g. fear) therefore reinforces avoidance Outline the SLT explanation of phobias - Answer-Phobias are learnt through observation of a model who also experiences the fear e.g. parent may be afraid of spiders; parent gets attention which is rewarding; fear is imitated Evaluation of SLT and 2PM explanations of phobias - Answer-+ Supporting research Watson and Rayner - Little Albert experiment; Albert developed a phobia of rats through association of rats and loud noise Increases validity of the explanation