Psychology Exam 1 (Disorders through Phobias)

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps between neurons. Are Inhibitory or excitatory to the receiving neuron

Dopamine

learning, attention, emotion, facilitates movement

• high schizophrenia

• low parkinson’s

Serotonin

Mood, hunger, sleep, arousal

• Low can lead to depression

Norepinephrine

Alertness and arousal

• low can lead depression

Specific Phobia diagnostic criteria (must have all of these to be diagnosed)

• marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation

• … almost always provokes immediate fear or anxiety

• actively avoided OR endured with intense fear or anxiety

• out of proportion to actual danger

• fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent (6+ months)

• causes clinically significant distress or impairment (social, occupational, etc.)

• not better explained by another mental disorder

Gender, race, and SES differences (of specific phobias)

• gender- more females than males (2:1)

Psychological causes of Specific Phobias (?)

• Based on Learning Theories

  • Classical Conditioning

  • Modeling

  • Evolutionary Preparedness

• What does the research say?

  • Can be acquired through learning

  • Unclear if usually acquired this way

Treatment (of specific phobias)

70 percent improve after exposure treatment

• Exposure treatments have the best evidence

• Systematic Desensitization

  • Relaxation and fear are incompatible

  • Create fear hierarchy

  • In vivo exposure vs. imaginal exposure

• Flooding

  • Made to see that what they fear is actually not dangerous

  • Without relaxation training or gradual buildup