Phobias And Addictions: Classical And Operant Conditioning
Phobias and Addictions PSY 300
August 11, 2013
Dr. Hawkins
Phobias and Addictions
Learning is an unwavering change in an individual because of an experience or set of experiences (Ricker, 2013). Learning can be achieved in a variety of approaches, classical, and operant conditioning as well as positive reinforcement. The classical and operant conditioning methods were derived by B. F. Skinner and Ivan Pavlov. Kowalski and Westen (2011) noted, “Classical conditioning as learning in which an environmental stimulus produces a response in an organism” (p. 164). Operant conditioning is “learning that results when an individual associates a response that occurs spontaneously with a particular environmental effect” (Kowalski …show more content…
Phobias can be acquired through classical conditioning by pairing a neutral stimulus with something that causes grave pain (NIU, 2003). Phobia reactions can be ongoing unless the individual is exposed to the extinction process. According to NIU (2003), during the extinction process, an individual must face the fear without the presence of the unconditioned stimulus. For example, in the experiment conducted by Watson and Rayner, Little Albert formed a phobia of white rats and other furry objects as a result of combining the white rat with a loud bang (Kowalski & Westen, 2011, p. …show more content…
174). Merriam-Webster (2013), defines addiction as a compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance or activity such as heroin, nicotine, alcohol, food, and gambling characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal. An example of operant conditioning is drinking alcohol. For most people, drinking alcohol is often followed by pleasurable feelings or relief from anxiety. This is an operant response because it is a voluntary behavior that has consequences, which can lead to either an increase or decrease in one’s behavior. An addiction cultivates when a behavior is encountered with reinforcement. If the reinforcement is positive, the conduct transpires more
August 11, 2013
Dr. Hawkins
Phobias and Addictions
Learning is an unwavering change in an individual because of an experience or set of experiences (Ricker, 2013). Learning can be achieved in a variety of approaches, classical, and operant conditioning as well as positive reinforcement. The classical and operant conditioning methods were derived by B. F. Skinner and Ivan Pavlov. Kowalski and Westen (2011) noted, “Classical conditioning as learning in which an environmental stimulus produces a response in an organism” (p. 164). Operant conditioning is “learning that results when an individual associates a response that occurs spontaneously with a particular environmental effect” (Kowalski …show more content…
Phobias can be acquired through classical conditioning by pairing a neutral stimulus with something that causes grave pain (NIU, 2003). Phobia reactions can be ongoing unless the individual is exposed to the extinction process. According to NIU (2003), during the extinction process, an individual must face the fear without the presence of the unconditioned stimulus. For example, in the experiment conducted by Watson and Rayner, Little Albert formed a phobia of white rats and other furry objects as a result of combining the white rat with a loud bang (Kowalski & Westen, 2011, p. …show more content…
174). Merriam-Webster (2013), defines addiction as a compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance or activity such as heroin, nicotine, alcohol, food, and gambling characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal. An example of operant conditioning is drinking alcohol. For most people, drinking alcohol is often followed by pleasurable feelings or relief from anxiety. This is an operant response because it is a voluntary behavior that has consequences, which can lead to either an increase or decrease in one’s behavior. An addiction cultivates when a behavior is encountered with reinforcement. If the reinforcement is positive, the conduct transpires more