Classical conditioning is a mode of training behavior where a naturally occurring environmental stimulus that produces an unconditional response is paired with a neutral stimulus. After this is done one or more times, the neutral stimulus will become a conditioned stimulus in that it will produce the same response as the naturally occurring unconditional stimulus. Classical conditioning was discovered and researched by Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist. His famous experiment with his dog is known to nearly everyone who has taken a psychology class. He fed his dog in a pattern, every time he fed his dog he rang a bell. Eventually the dog associated the bell with food and would begin to salivate just on hearing the bell. That is the original experiment proving classical conditioning. Classical conditioning can cause a phobia. A phobia is a fear that is so irrational that the amount of fear is not warranted by the cause, and it interferes with the daily functioning of the sufferer. If one were to see and hear something that naturally produces a great deal of fear they may develop a phobia to similar sights and sounds. For example, if a car is heard honking and then seen and heard crashing at an intersection one might develop an irrational fear of car horns or crosswalks. Though a crosswalk at an intersection can be considered a dangerous place; if someone is so afraid to use one that they go completely out of their way to avoid it or change their plans all together, this would be considered a phobia because the level of fear is irrational and hinders the persons confidence. A phobia can be defined as an irritating fear of a stimulus that gradually evolves into a severe anxiety which can heavily disrupt and interfere with one’s daily activities. Fear naturally begins to surface in childhood, though gradually dissolves as a child ages. If a child enters adolescence and a fear begins to interrupt his or her lifestyle, the fear can potentially evolve into a phobia. Phobias are the result of a negative experience, the fear of an unfavorable occurrence, or inheritance of genes. A phobia sometimes develops during childhood, which is a crucial time for a child to develop physically and emotionally. Along with children, adults experience stress and are more sensitive to traumatic events which may occur. Any child with a phobia may experience a stage of tantrums, crying, sensitivity, avoidance, and physical symptoms such as a stomach ache or headache (Woods, Woods & Boyde, 2005). It is crucial for a child comprehend that the fear is out of proportion and irrational in order to grow out of it. Children have a better chance of developing a specific phobia, which is a fear of a specific object or situation (Woods, Woods & Boyde, 2005). Parents have a significantly large effect on a child's development, and the job of a parent is to recognize and treat the anxiety, and understand that avoidance will not erase a child's phobia. In a situation where a child is afraid of dogs, and the parent is walking down a sidewalk that a dog is approaching with its owner, it is wrong for the parent to cross the street. This action will only temporarily relieve the child's stress, and may teach the child that avoidance is the answer to his or her problems. I developed my fear of water which is Aqua phobia, during a vacation a trip with my friend Mike to Cater Caves. We stayed there for five days. The second to last day there we decided to go fishing, so we get everything we needed and went the lake which happened to be enormous. I did notice that the dock was slightly broken which gave it a lean but I thought nothing of the danger it might present by fishing off of it. We set up our lines and began fishing. In the back of my mind I knew I couldn’t swim but the I thought there was no way I could fall in because I know I cannot swim and to fall in would be ridiculous, then just that fast I was submerged under water looking up at the light. It happened so fast I do not even remember falling in. The first thought that went through my head was the fact that I knew I couldn’t swim and I could possibly drown now. As I made it back to the top of the water I watched my friend laugh at me as I struggled to grab hold of the broken dock. I then pulled myself to safety to shaken up to curse Mike out for not trying to help me. This all took place in the month of February, so it was nowhere near warm. The sun started to set and Mikes mom was nowhere in sight to pick us up. We then began to walk back to the cabin which was quite a distance away. Luckily a park ranger was patrolling and seen us walking because I don’t know how much longer I could of walked before hypothermia set in. after making it back to the cabin and taking a hot bath and getting into dry clothes I still couldn’t stop shaking. I no longer wanted to go to swimming pools and felt uneasy traveling over large bodies of water. Symptoms an individual with phobias may experience chest and abdominal discomfort, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, trembling, and sweating. A phobia is not something one can predict nor control, and it is more stressful when danger takes an individual by surprise. Individual with a concerned and timid attitude, who may have trouble dealing with sudden danger, may easily develop a phobia (Vrodbaz, 2011). In a situation where a parent has a phobia or is constantly preoccupied with being perfect, it is only natural that the child will develop the same worry and anxiety which may eventually become a phobia (Vrodbaz, 2011). When a phobia intensifies, a person may take extreme measures to avoid his or her fear. For example, if it is imperative that an individual is brought to an emergency room and the driver has a phobia of heights, he or she will travel for miles to avoid necessary bridges to get to the hospital. To defeat your fear of your phobia one must use counter conditioning. In my case I have gotten comfortable to crossing large bodies of water due to frequent trips across the river and actually being the person driving so that you know that I am in control. For years I never went close to a pool. This past summer I began to try and break my fear of water by swimming at my girlfriend’s parent’s pool with a life jacket. At first I was reluctant to leave the edge of the pool and venture to the deep end because the feel of going under the water brought back that traumatic day but eventually I would be crossing the deep end all with a life jacket on. This Summer I plan on using the life jacket at first, but gradually moving in the direction of not needing it and erasing my fear of water.

References
Vrodbaz. (2011). Classical conditioning and phobias. Heathguideinfo. Retrieved from http://www.healthguideinfo.com/phobias/p103280/
Woods, E. G., Woods, S. E., & Boyde, D. (2005). Learning. Pearson. Retrieved from http://www.pearsonhighered.com/samplechapter/0205361374.pdf