Learning __ How are phobias/fears conditioned? How does stimulus generalization impact fears/phobios? How does the concept of reinforcement "continue" phobias and compulsions? How can observational learning influence fear/phobia? Biological. __ does evolution help explain phobias and compulsions? Do genes impact anxiety disorders? If so how? What parts of the brain seem to be involved with C D? Phobias?

Learning:<br /><br />1. Phobias and fears can be conditioned through classical conditioning, where an individual learns to associate a neutral stimulus with a fear-inducing event. For example, if someone experiences a traumatic event, such as being bitten by a dog, they may develop a fear of dogs as a result.<br />2. Stimulus generalization occurs when an individual's fear response is triggered by stimuli that are similar to the original fear-inducing stimulus. For example, if someone has a fear of spiders, they may also develop a fear of other insects or even objects that resemble spiders.<br />3. Reinforcement can "continue" phobias and compulsions by providing negative reinforcement or positive reinforcement. Negative reinforcement occurs when an individual's fear response is reduced or eliminated, which reinforces the fear response. Positive reinforcement occurs when an individual's avoidance behavior is rewarded, which reinforces the avoidance behavior.<br />4. Observational learning can influence fear and phobias by observing others' reactions to certain stimuli. For example, if a child observes a parent's fear of snakes, they may also develop a fear of snakes.<br /><br />Biological:<br /><br />1. Evolutionary theory suggests that phobias and compulsions may have been adaptive in the past, as they helped individuals avoid dangerous situations. For example, a fear of snakes may have helped early humans avoid venomous snakes, which could have been deadly.<br />2. Research suggests that genes can play a role in the development of anxiety disorders, including phobias and compulsions. Twin studies have shown that there is a higher concordance rate for anxiety disorders in identical twins compared to fraternal twins, suggesting a genetic component.<br />3. The brain regions involved in OCD include the orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and striatum. The amygdala is involved in the fear response and is implicated in phobias.