1. Topic D Why do we have phobias? The nature-nurture debate
GCSE Psychology
Topic D Why do we have phobias?
The nature-nurture debate

2. Homework check Homework – define nature and nurture.
Give an example of how each can cause phobias.
Nature – the way we are born
Nurture – the way we are brought up
Parents with phobias (nature) may be more likely to have children with phobias
A child attacked by a dog (nurture) develops a phobia of dogs

3. Learning objectives To learn about nature and phobias.
To learn about nurture and phobias.
To investigate how important nature and nurture are in the development of phobias.

4. Preparedness Read page 134.
Who suggested we can use evolution to explain irrational phobias in 1971?
What is preparedness?
Complete the following Gapfil activity:

5. Preparedness
Seligman ………….suggested that we can use evolution to explain irrational phobias. He said we learn ………………..between some things more………………than others, for example we are more likely to fear ………………..water or thunder than long grass or………………………. Evolution seems to have ‘……………………………….’ us to learn about things that are threatening, this is called preparedness. Seligman thought that …………………….input was needed to learn an ……………………………….to a prepared stimulus than to a non-prepared one. E.g. if we learn to be afraid of fire, we will make an association between ………………..and fire much more quickly than between fear and a ………..-………………………stimulus such as a rock.
Seligman went on to say that prepared stimuli would have been ………………………………..to humans early in ………………………………….e.g. fearing poisonous snakes and……………………..would have been prepared stimuli and if playing it safe meant you were more likely to ………………………………. then the ……………………………humans would go on to have more……………………………and their ……………………..would carry on to the next…………………………….
children evolution less fear spiders
threatening sunshine survive genes
prepared links easily association
non-prepared deep fittest generation

6. Read page 135 .
Define preparedness and review one-trial learning.
Draw a picture of an example of one-trial learning.

7. Which is the most valid explanation?
Nature
(preparedness)
Nurture
(SLT, Classical / operant Conditioning)

8. If you can find a computer…
and enter express code 4837P.
Read about evolution and phobias on the Psych Web website.
Complete questions 1-3 at the bottom of page 135.
Homework – define nature and nurture.
Give an example of how each can cause phobias.