PSYCHOLOGY U4AOS2 mental wellbeing DP2

biological contributing factors of specific phobia

-GABA dysfunction

-Long term potentiation

GABA

primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS and works throughout the brain to make postsynaptic neurons less likely to fire

GABA dysfunction

due to a low level of GABA or an insufficient reception or transmission of GABA across the synapse

GABA dysfunction in contributing to the development of phobia

cause the fight/flight/freeze or anxiety response to be activated more easily, means that the stress response is more easily triggered

effects of low levels of GABA

-genetic vulnerability (biological factors)

-exposure to prolonged stress or environmental toxins, nutritional deficiencies or high caffeine intake (sociocultural factors)

Long term potentiation

long-lasting strengthening of synapses that are repeatedly activated together

Long term potentiation in contributing to the development of phobia

exposure to the phobic stimulus will therefore strengthen the memory circuit and via communication with the amygdala, activate multiple brain regions that then produce a variety of symptoms of fear and anxiety

psychological contributing factors

-role of behavioural models (precipiation by classical conditioning and perpetuation by operant conditioning)

-the role of cognitive bias (memory bias and catastrophic thinking)

precipitation

development origin trigger

perpetuation

maintained persisted

cognitive bias

systematic error in thinking that affects the decisions and judgements that people make

memory bias

a kind of cognitive bias caused by inaccurate or exaggerated memory. each time the person remembers the situation, object or event it is usually more catastrophic or threatening

catastrophic thinking

when an individual repeatedly overestimates the potential dangers of an object or event and assumes the worst

social contributing factors

-specific environment triggers

-stigma around seeking treatment

specific environmental trigger

a specific object or situation in the environment that triggered an extreme fear response

stigma

a mark of disgrace that labels a person as different and separates them from others, individuals are less likely to seek or accept help and go untreated for years

differences in developing a phobia

-individuals prior experience

-individuals subsequent exposure to the object or situation

agonists

imitating and therefore stimulating a neurotransmitter’s activity

antagonists

inhibiting a neurotransmitter’s activity