Which approach would explain that phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and the hypochondriac's "sickness behavior" is reinforced by sympathy and attention?
What are your choices?
Behaviorism?
The approach that best explains that phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and the hypochondriac's "sickness behavior" is reinforced by sympathy and attention is the behavioral approach or behaviorism.
1. Classical conditioning: According to this approach, phobias can be acquired through classical conditioning, a process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a negative emotional response. For example, if someone experiences a traumatic event while near a spider, they may develop a phobia of spiders. The fear response becomes conditioned to the presence of spiders, even if there is no direct threat.
2. Reinforcement: The hypochondriac's "sickness behavior" being reinforced by sympathy and attention relates to the principles of positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by a rewarding stimulus, increasing the likelihood of that behavior being repeated. In the case of hypochondriacs, their exaggerated concern for their health or imaginary symptoms may be reinforced by receiving sympathy and attention from others. This encourages them to continue exhibiting such behavior, as it provides them with the desired social support and validation.
Therefore, the behavioral approach offers an explanation for how both phobias and the reinforcement of hypochondriac behavior can occur through the process of classical conditioning and positive reinforcement, respectively.
The approach that would explain that phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and the hypochondriac's "sickness behavior" is reinforced by sympathy and attention is the behavioral approach in psychology.
To understand how this approach would explain these phenomena, let's break down the concepts of classical conditioning, phobias, and reinforcement.
In classical conditioning, learning occurs when an individual associates a neutral stimulus (such as a sound or a location) with a naturally occurring stimulus (such as a painful experience or a feeling of sickness). Over time, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus that can elicit a conditioned response.
In the case of phobias, classical conditioning suggests that they can be acquired through the association of a neutral stimulus with a negative or traumatic experience. For example, if someone gets bitten by a dog and experiences fear and pain, they may develop a phobia of dogs, where the sight or sound of a dog becomes a conditioned stimulus triggering an automatic fear response.
On the other hand, the concept of reinforcement is based on the idea that behaviors are more likely to be repeated if they are followed by positive consequences or rewards. In the case of the hypochondriac's "sickness behavior," the attention and sympathy received from others when they exhibit illness-related behaviors act as reinforcing factors. This reinforcement strengthens the behavior, making it more likely to occur again in the future.
So, the behavioral approach would explain that phobias can be acquired through classical conditioning, where a fear response becomes associated with a specific stimulus. Additionally, the approach would also suggest that the hypochondriac's "sickness behavior" is reinforced by the attention and sympathy they receive from others, which maintains and strengthens their inclination to exhibit such behaviors.
It's important to note that the behavioral approach is just one perspective in psychology, and other approaches, such as cognitive or biological, may provide alternative explanations or additional insights into these phenomena.