Transcript Evaluate behav evoltheory

The Evolutionary Theory of
Phobias
BATs
- Evaluate the Behaviourist Theory of phobias (C+)
- Outline and evaluate the evolutionary theory for
explaining phobias (C+)
- compare the behaviourist and evolutionary
theories of phobias (B+)
Behaviourist theory of phobias
• All behaviours, including phobias, are
learnt.
• In other words, phobias are conditioned.
• Phobias start because of classical
conditioning.
• Phobias are maintained (kept going) by
operant conditioning.
Can you identify these key terms
from classical conditioning?
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UCS
CR
NS
CS
UCR
Unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned response
Neutral stimulus
Conditioned stimulus
Unconditioned stimulus
If you had Arachnophobia how could you
explain it using Classical conditioning?
UCS
UCR
NS
CS
CR
If you had Arachnophobia how could you
explain it using Classical conditioning?
UCS
Being Bitten
UCR
FEAR
NS
Spider
CS
Spider
CR
FEAR
Evaluating the Behaviourist Theory
Criticisms
• It ignores the thinking behind phobias – it is
not just about having a bad experience but also
about how we think about it (rationally or
irrationally).
• People have phobias of objects or situations
that they have had no experience of. So they
must learn to have that phobia from others
e.g.Parents.
• It ignores the idea that phobias may be more
instinctive than learnt. Evolutionary theory
suggests that we have an innate tendency to
fear objects or situations that threaten our
survival.
Evolutionary Theory of phobias
This theory proposes the idea of preparedness
– we are ready to fear certain things more than
others if they threaten our chances of
surviving.
Why would we be prepared to fear the following?
 rodents
 flying
 the dark
 Closed spaces
 heights
Evolutionary Theory of phobias
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Read p 70-71 The Alternative Theory: Evolutionary
Theory
Fill the meaning of these key terms into your Glossary..
Evolutionary Theory
add in – Preparedness
Answer these questions ..
Why do we need a sense of fear?
Which type of animals does Evolutionary theory suggest
we find most frightening? Why
Why might it be more difficult to get rid of phobias that
threat our survival?
How does preparedness help us to survive?
Why don’t we have phobias of guns, cigarettes,
electricity?
Lets test the Theory!!
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Have a go at Activity 5.8 p71
You can choose 10 different animal pictures
Make up a rating scale.
Do a survey to find out how frightened the class
is of these animals
a graph (extension – calculate
averages)
• Draw
• Describe your findings in words
• Do your findings support the
Evolutionary Theory?
Compare the Behaviourist and
Evolutionary Theories
• Use the ‘2 hand approach’ to compare the
2 theories
Evolutionary
Theory of
Phobias
Behaviourist
Theory of
Phobias
BUT, on
the other
hand …
Holiday Homework
• Use the revision booklet – I will mark it!!
• Fill in all the glossary sheets used so far
• Catch up on any work missed
Remember –
Exam on
May18th!!!