Phobias & Addictions

Phobias and Addictions

Society is unaware that there are big numbers of individuals who suffer from addictions and phobias. Addictions and phobias are usually joined since individuals with addictions normally begin with a phobia they were unaware of. Addictions and phobias are separated into different groups of conditioning involving the effects each individual. The separate groups are classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning happens when individuals discover how they should respond to a stimulus within their atmosphere. Operant conditioning occurs when an individual responds only to a penalty or reward. According to Kowalski & Westen (2011), “Learning is any enduring change in the way an organism responds based on its experience” (p. 164). The primary differences between classical and operant conditioning involve the response and stimulus, which is responsible for the phobias and addictions.

Explore how phobias can be developed through classical conditioning

According to Phobias (2000), “Phobias are known as irrational fears that cannot be overcome even when the sufferer is fully aware that there is no reason for the fear” (para. 7). Phobias are often looked at as anxiety-related disorders that may not or may have been the result of an addiction. Additionally, simple phobias, social phobias, or situational phobias are three examples of phobias that individuals can find themselves involved. According to Phobias (2004), “Some people with phobias have feelings of depersonalization that leads to periods of depression” (para. 3).

Phobias can be brutal since phobias can affect the world of the individual who has the phobias, as well as the individuals around them. Phobias can be a result of any specific event or object. According to Kowalski & Westen (2011), “A child that has been exposed to many shots may develop severe reactions or fainting to needles inserted intravenously” (p. 161). There are also phobic incidences...