How Learning Theory Can Be Used in Overcoming, Cynophobia, a Fear of Dogs
Hakim has come to a therapist in order to help overcoming his Cynophobia, a fear of dogs. Explain and critically evaluate how learning theory can be used to explain Hakim 's phobia and also, potentially, to treat it.
This essay will explain and critically evaluate how, Cynophobia, a fear of dogs can be overcome. The two main points that will be looked at is learning theory in an effort to try and explain how this phobia has developed in Hakim and possible ways of treating it.
Classical conditioning as defined by Comer,(2004) as “ a process of learning by temporal association in which two events that repeatedly occur close together in time become fused in a person’s mind and produce the same response.”
The major influence in learning theory is Pavlov (1902) who while carrying out an experiment into the glandular secretions during digestion noted that the dogs began to salivate when the food was about to be delivered. This gave rise to research based on this involving conditioning the animals to salivate on command. The unconditioned stimulus (US) was the food and the natural response to this stimulus was the unconditioned response (UCR), salivating. Next a conditioned stimulus (CS) such as ringing of a bell was introduced. This process is called pairing. After several repetitions the dogs had become conditioned to the bell and would salivate not only in response to the food but also to the bell. This is then called the conditioned response (CR).
However it has been criticised as being a one-dimensional approach to behaviour and that it doesn’t take into account free will and individual differences when applied to humans. Also humans and animals have the ability to adapt their behaviour when new information is introduced. They have made a conscious decision to respond in a way that if beneficial to them. Rachman, S. (1977a)
In order to sufficiently explain how learning theory has created a phobia in Hakim and possible ways to help him to overcome this
This essay will explain and critically evaluate how, Cynophobia, a fear of dogs can be overcome. The two main points that will be looked at is learning theory in an effort to try and explain how this phobia has developed in Hakim and possible ways of treating it.
Classical conditioning as defined by Comer,(2004) as “ a process of learning by temporal association in which two events that repeatedly occur close together in time become fused in a person’s mind and produce the same response.”
The major influence in learning theory is Pavlov (1902) who while carrying out an experiment into the glandular secretions during digestion noted that the dogs began to salivate when the food was about to be delivered. This gave rise to research based on this involving conditioning the animals to salivate on command. The unconditioned stimulus (US) was the food and the natural response to this stimulus was the unconditioned response (UCR), salivating. Next a conditioned stimulus (CS) such as ringing of a bell was introduced. This process is called pairing. After several repetitions the dogs had become conditioned to the bell and would salivate not only in response to the food but also to the bell. This is then called the conditioned response (CR).
However it has been criticised as being a one-dimensional approach to behaviour and that it doesn’t take into account free will and individual differences when applied to humans. Also humans and animals have the ability to adapt their behaviour when new information is introduced. They have made a conscious decision to respond in a way that if beneficial to them. Rachman, S. (1977a)
In order to sufficiently explain how learning theory has created a phobia in Hakim and possible ways to help him to overcome this
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