What is the theory behind this classical conditioning phobias worksheet?
A phobia is an unreasonable, persistent fear of a certain thing, person, animal, or circumstance. A person who suffers from a phobia either seeks to avoid the item that makes them anxious or suffers through it with immense suffering. The techniques from behavioural therapy are used to treat the phobias.
How will the worksheet help?
The development of phobias can be explained by the process of classical conditioning. For instance, we learn to associate something we are not afraid of (dog) with a fear-inducing stimulus (being bitten). After a connection has been established, the dog—now a conditioned stimulus—provokes a fearful reaction in us, leading to the development of a phobia.
The worksheet will help the client in understanding the vicious cycle of the phobias and give him/her insight about his/her thoughts, emotional, physical symptoms and behaviour related to phobia.
How to use the worksheet?
The worksheet can be used by therapists to develop insight in clients regarding the vicious cycle of phobia. Therapists can use the worksheet during the session and assist clients in solving this worksheet.
Classical conditioning phobia worksheet
Answer the following questions
What are the things that make you fearful? Describe the situation in detail.
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What do you think when you are scared or fearful?
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What are the changes that your body experiences when you are fearful?
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How this fear is affecting your social, emotional, interpersonal and occupational life.
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Vicious cycle
References
Phobias self help. (n.d.). Get.gg – Getselfhelp.co.uk. https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/phobias-self-help/
Praveen Shrestha, “Classical Conditioning and Phobias,” in Psychestudy, November 17, 2017, https://www.psychestudy.com/behavioral/learning-memory/classical-conditioning/phobias
Phobia. (2022, March 9). Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/phobia-a-to-z
You can download this worksheet here.