Phobias and Addictions Paper
Osvaldo L Mercado
University of Phoenix

Classical Conditioning refers to a procedure by which a previously neutral stimulus comes to elicit a response after it is paired with a stimulus that automatically elicits that response.” (Kowalski & Westen, 2011) The unconditioned stimulus or ‘US”, is an occurrence which causes an innate, involuntary response or reaction. When someone smells a favorite food cooking they most oftentimes begin to feel hungry; in this scenario the unconditioned stimulus, is the aroma of the food. The feeling of hunger in relation to the aroma of the food is referred to as the unconditioned response or “UR”; once again, the term unconditioned means that this is a naturally occurring reaction which has not been learned by the individual who experiences the feelings of hunger. In regards to phobias, theories of classical conditioning can be applied due to the fact that most irrational fears are learned by association and with the introduction of a stimulus which would otherwise not cause a reaction i.e. a neutral stimulus. There are thousands of documented phobias from the world, most are believed to have developed due to a response from a negative environment that the individual encountered at one point in life. According to the American Psychiatric Association (2012). Symptoms of a phobia include the following: * Recognition that the fear goes beyond normal boundaries and the actual threat of danger * Reactions that are automatic and uncontrollable, practically talking over the person is thoughts. * Feelings of panic, dread, horror, or terror * Rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, trembling, and an overwhelming desire to flee the situation * Extreme measures taken to avoid the feared object or situation

Three categories of Phobias according to the reaction and avoidance. 1.