Phobias and Addictions

Phobias and addictions

According to Kowalski and western (2009), learning refers to any enduring change in the way an organism responds based on its experience. In this paper we will explore how phobias can be developed through classical conditioning, how addictions can be developed through operant conditioning, the difference between classical and operant conditioning, and extinction on how it is achieved in both classical and operant conditioning. Just about everyone is afraid of something--an upcoming job interview or being alone outside after dark. A great percentage of all Americans are tormented by irrational fears that interfere with their daily lives. They are not "crazy"--they are fully aware that their fears are unreasonable-but they can't control the fear. These are called phobias.

Phobias are irrational fears of certain situations, activities, things animals, or people that interfere with one's everyday life. A phobia is something a person fears to the point that they feel they have to change how they behave. Specific phobias are thought to be caused or influenced by genetics and/or childhood trauma. These phobias can be learned through a type of learning called classical conditioning (Deluca, 2009). Ivan Pavlov is known for his theory of classical conditioning. This can be thought of as a reaction that is learned through association between an environmental stimulus and a natural environmental stimulus. During his study of dogs, Pavlov noted that when dog food is presented, the dogs begin to salivate. This pairing seems expected, and the salivation is an innate reaction of the dogs to feeding. But, then Pavlov began to pair the dog food with the ringing of a bell. Through these repeated pairings, the dogs became conditioned to salivate at the sound of the bell even when no food was presented.

One example of a phobia being developed through classical conditioning could be getting a panic attack while driving the car. People may begin to associate driving with causing the panic response. Driving itself is not really the cause of the panic; rather, people become conditioned to panic when faced with driving.

Bibliography

Deluca, L. C. (2009). Causes of Specific Phobias.

Kowalski, R. &. (2009). Psychology 5th Ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.