Gareth suffers from Ichthyophobia which is a fear of fish. This phobia is diagnosed when a person is afraid of eating fish, smelling or seeing a dead one. ("Ichthyophobia – Symptoms and Causes of Ichthyophobia – Treatment", n.d.) A behavioral psychologist will be interesting in a classical conditioning.
Classical conditioning, or responsive conditioning, is a process describing the genesis and modification of some behaviors based on the effects of the stimulus-response on the central nervous system of living beings. The term classical conditioning is historically linked to the Psychology of learning or the Behaviourism of Pavlov (1902), Watson (1913) and Skinner (1948).
The Pavlov experience (Pavlov,1897/1902) elucidated the existence of classical
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Pavlov's experience consisted of associating an unconditional stimulus (food) with the presentation of a neutral stimulus (sound of a doorbell). After the repetition of this association of stimuli, he found that the dog learned to salivate at the stimulus that previously did not provoke any (neutral) response even in the absence of the unconditional stimulus (food). (McLeod,2013)
Strengths and weaknesses founded on this explanation:
The use of scientific methods of research is considered a strength because the trials acknowledge objectivity, measurability, and visibility. The classical and operant conditioning are also a strong point in this theory as it gives positives results in treating phobias.
Although there are also some weaknesses that it is important to outline such as the problems that the use of animals in trials could be raised. Ethical issues raised by using animals in experiments. This is because animals can not consent to take part and are unable to withdraw.
2. How would a psychodynamic psychologist explain this
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Between the 1890s and the 1930s, Freud (1915) developed a collection of theories and formed the basis of the psychodynamic approach to psychology. According to Freud, the unconscious mind is the primary source of human behavior. To explain his theory, he developed a topographical model of the mind. Freud used the analogy of an iceberg to describe the three levels of the mind. On the surface is consciousness which is those thoughts that are the focus of our attention now. The preconscious is all that can be retrieved from memory. The third is the unconscious and that is where lie’s the processes that are the real cause of the most behavior.