Phobias - 1174 Words

Running head: PHOBIAS AND ADDICTIONS Phobias and Addictions PSY/300 Abstract This essay examines phobias and addictions, how phobias can be developed through operant conditioning and how addictions can be developed through operant conditioning. This essay also examines the distinctions between classical and operant condition and examines â€Å"extinction† as it relates to psychological theory and how extinction is achieved in classical and operant conditioning. Phobias and Addictions Numerous psychologists believe that behaviors are learned through conditioning. These conditionings are known as operant, which is based on individual’s response to outside stimuli, and classical conditioning, which is†¦show more content†¦Whereas, in operant conditioning a behavior becomes associated with an environmental effect such as a feeling of being rewarded by performing a certain behavior. Classical conditioning is a passive learning experience, whereas Operant conditioning is generally a more active learning experience. What is extinction? In psyc hology, extinction is the gradual weakening of a conditioned response that results in the behavior decreasing or disappearing. For example, when a dog becomes conditioned to receiving treats due to begging, (reinforcing the behavior), the dog can become conditioned to developing a taste for only treats. At this point the dog will stop eating its regular diet and eat only treats. For extinction, you ignore the dogs begging for treats and eventually this behavior will stop and the dog will resume eating its regular diet. â€Å" Reinforcement is one type of environmental consequence that controls behavior through operant conditioning; the other is punishment, whereas reinforcement always increases the likelihood of a response, either by the presentation of a reward or the removal of an aversive stimulus, punishment decreases the probability that a behavior will recur†(Kowalski Weston ,2009).While extinction can be actualized, the process of disassociating a person to bring abou t a change in behavior can be long, and, arduous, yet it can be an extremely rewarding journey. Extinction in classicalShow MoreRelatedPhobias And Its Effects On Phobias925 Words   |  4 PagesA phobia is a phenomenon where an organism has a distinct fear of a particular event or object. Phobias can not only be a biological instinct but rather a conditioned emotional response as well. Though, there has been some argument on what causes phobia it is generally accepted that phobias both stem from biological input and environmental experiences. The first reference to phobias was done by Hippocrates, who wrote about one of his patients having an extreme fear over something that othersRead MorePhobias802 Words   |  4 PagesAracniphobi, the fear of spiders, might be one of the first phobias to come across someone’s lips. One of my phobias is Cynophobia, or the fear of dogs. There are many things that scare people, but when someone starts thinking of college, fear is not the first thing that pops into their head. Usually, it’s things like staying up late, freedom, and being on your own that makes everyone jump for joy to leave their parent’s nest. I feel fear. I’m afraid to an extent. I know that it won’t be the beingRead More Phobias Essay1282 Words   |  6 Pagesrecognizes that phobias are not something to be ashamed of, and that everyone has at least one. But what exactly is a phobia? Simply put, it’s an anxiety disorder. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The exact definition of a phobia is a bit different though. A phobia is an anxiety disorder in which a person will experience a strong, irrational fear of a situation, object, or activity. Adults with fears usually realize they are being irrational, but children are the opposite. A phobia will produce a feelingRead MorePhobias: Effects and Treatments of Phobias Essay1534 Words   |  7 Pagesand situations involving spiders. Should phobias be treated in everybody, including young children? Phobias should be treated seriously, because they cause disruptions in the lives of the victims, they leave emotional and psychological scars, and the cause acute distress and panic attacks that take a normal situation and make it terrifying. A phobia is an irrational fear of an object or situation (â€Å"PhobiaFacts – Phobias†). Every fear is a phobia though there may not be an official nameRead MoreEssay on Phobias1925 Words   |  8 PagesPhobias Fear is a normal and an important human reaction to something dangerous, it keeps one out of danger, because fear is disliked and one tries ones best to avoid the object or situation of fear. It causes physical changes known as fight-or-flight reaction, which causes blood pressure to increase and the heart rate to speed up to pump blood to the large muscles used to run away, to balance this the human body has sweat glands which produce perspiration to cool the body. Usually young peopleRead More Phobias Essay2226 Words   |  9 Pages Phobias nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Phobias are a very common disorder in the United States these days. The definition for phobia is quot;an abnormal or morbid fear or aversionquot; (quot;Oxfordquot; 655). To be considered a phobia, a fear must cause great distress or interfere with a personamp;#8217;s life in a major way. The word phobia is Greek, therefore, any word that proceeds it should be Greek too. To coin a new phobia name, it is proper and only accepted to follow this rule. TheRead MoreThe History of Phobias Essay1117 Words   |  5 PagesPhobias have been in existence for many years. Phobias date back to the works of Hippocrates, a prehistoric Greek physician (Korgeski, 2009). The works of Hippocrates are still debated today. In The Seventh Book of Epidemics, one of the publications by Hippocrates, he studied an individual and he interpreted a condition that the person portrayed. The results of the observation were that the individual was petrified of the sound of a flute, if he was n’t intoxicated. He noticed the individual wasRead MoreFear : Fear And Phobia1328 Words   |  6 PagesFear and phobia, we all face one at some point in time though the question of what causes it or at the least why we were we biologically inclined to have phobias and fear.Winerman, L. (2016). Lest we forget we have nothing to fear but fear itself and look upon this inquiry of what fear is. Be it a scary movie or something far more sinister, but what does it all mean? What causes you to fear? Well Based on my research I conclude that fear is something that can be learned or inherited. Alongside myRead MorePhobia Speech902 Words   |  4 Pagestrucks below looked like ants? Would you scream, yell or cry? Would you be left feeling nauseas, or unable to move. Would you hyperventilate and suffer a serious heart attack right there siting on your chair? If you would, you may have a phobia. A phobia is an extreme or irrational fear. Everybody suffers from some kind of fear, everybody in the WORLD suffers from some kind of fear. Except Chuck Norris, he doesn’t have fears, fears have Chuck Norris. Most fears start fron scary events/thingRead MorePhobia Research Paper2253 Words   |  10 PagesKnown as a mental disorder a phobia is a persistent fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to compelling desire to avoid it. Phobias tend to affect the way people live their lives, for example, their working and social environments, considering that they last for a very long time and are capable to cause intense psychological physical stress. It is considered today the most common mental and anxiety disorder in the United States (Matig Mavissakalian David H. Barlow 1981 pp