1. © Banff and Buchan College 2004 Phobias – Psychological Theories

2. © Banff and Buchan College 2004 Phobia – Psychological Theories Phobias are acquired through learning from the environment –Classical conditioning –Operant conditioning –Social learning Two process theory of phobia 1.Acquisition of phobia 2.Maintenance of phobic behaviour

3. © Banff and Buchan College 2004 Initial Acquisition Through classical conditioning (direct): –Traumatic experience e.g. get bitten by a dog –False alarm e.g. have a panic attack in a lift Through social learning (vicarious): –Observe fear in another e.g. parent –Hear about danger from another

4. © Banff and Buchan College 2004 Maintenance Through operant conditioning: –Approaching phobic object/situation elicits conditioned anxiety response –Retreat from phobic object reduces anxiety –This acts as a (negative) reinforcer, so the more the person avoids the phobic object/situation the more likely they will continue to do so. –Others may unwittingly reinforce avoidance

5. © Banff and Buchan College 2004 Phobia Hypotheses from learning theory: –Phobias should be traceable to an original learning experience –Should centre on situations/objects that are potentially harmful –Should be possible to condition and decondition phobias artificially

6. © Banff and Buchan College 2004 Phobias – psychodynamic view Psychological disorders are a manifestation of repressed emotional problems –Phobias are symbols for other fears that the conscious mind can’t face –Unconscious fears are displaced onto innocuous objects

7. © Banff and Buchan College 2004 Simple Phobia Conscious Unconscious Fear & avoidance of a specific object or situation Trauma Unresolved developmental issue Unacceptable fear that has been repressed A symbolic link between the two

8. © Banff and Buchan College 2004 Simple Phobia Conscious Unconscious Fear of sharp instruments, knives, scissors Oedipus complex Overbearing or excessively punitive father Fear of castration psychlotron.org.uk

9. © Banff and Buchan College 2004 Simple Phobia Conscious Unconscious Fear of snakes Oedipus - incomplete identification with mother? Sexual abuse? Fear of the phallus/sexual intercourse

10. © Banff and Buchan College 2004 ‘Little Hans’ (Freud, 1909) Conscious Unconscious Fear & avoidance of horses/being bitten Oedipus complex only recently resolved Fear of his father & castration Playing horses Glasses, beard Horse collapsing

11. © Banff and Buchan College 2004 Issues for evaluation Limited evidence from clinical case studies Methodological issues – bias, incomplete reporting, sampling etc. Conceptual issues – reliance on interpretation of symbols Competition from other theories (Occam’s razor)

12. © Banff and Buchan College 2004 Henderson Road, Fraserburgh, AB43 9GA Tel: (01346) 515777 Fax: (01346) 515370 www.banff-buchan.ac.uk enquiries@banff-buchan.ac.uk