Essay on "Behaviorism Concept"

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Proposed Study:

The research question above invokes the need for a study of a selected sample of individuals suffering from a common phobia. Acrophobia is selected for the proposed study for a number of reasons. First and foremost is the commonality of this phobia. The fear of flying and heights correlates to a great many fairly common anxieties relating to loss of control, fear of mortality and propensities toward panic. Moreover, the phobia is fairly easy to identify, with many of its sufferers having had experiences which have clearly elucidated the presence of such a phobia.

Finally and of the greatest importance is the ethical implication of studying phobia and related trauma. Many anxiety disorders can relate to childhood traumas of a potentially disturbing nature and for reasons of scientific ethicality, it would be inappropriate to risk such encounters in a study of this nature. Acrophobia's relatively low association with psychologically devastating trauma and its much higher relationship to situational trauma makes it more suitable to this type of research, with risk of emotional intrusion far less likely.

With this rationale stated, it would be appropriate to produce a study on the subject which attempted to connect a common acrophobia in the selected sample with certain common experiential characteristics. Thus, the proposed study would not be experimental in nature as no control or experimental group appears to be appropriate. Instead, a single sample group would be measured qualitatively. Data gathered from this set would be used to draw analytical conclusions on the part of researchers.

The proposal is underscored by the view that this would contribute significant value to the field of trauma treatment by helping to establish some baseline expectations for the experiential realities contributing to acrophobia. As this relates to actual treatment strategies in the field, the identification of certain common trauma characteristics can be useful in drawing a starting point for cognitive behavioral therapy strategies. Such strategies, which typically probe the individual's experiences for clues relating to the onset of cognitive dissonance, are intended to alter negative behavioral responses which cause such dissonances to become ingrained in lifestyle habits. By producing a study which identifies some of the core connections between trauma, dissonance and behavior in relation to acrophobia, it may be possible to arm behavioral therapists with sharper diagnostic capabilities and, consequently, far better focused behavioral change therapy strategies.

Ultimately, any success in the use of such research could also contribute more broadly to the fields of phobia and trauma treatment. Where I lack the resources and training to adequately address more serious cases of trauma as stated here above, the approach of establishing baseline common characteristics among sufferers of a common phobia could be instructive to future research and treatment methods where these more serious disorders and traumas are concerned.

Methodology:

As indicated in the preliminary proposal here above, the primary sample would be a group of acrophobia sufferers. These would be courted through ads published in psychiatric journals and would request the assistance of practicing behavioral therapists in identifying and referring volunteers that fit the description of the studied population. Here, we would seek a sample of roughly 50 sufferers of acrophobia who present no symptoms of co-morbidity with other panic, anxiety or phobia disorders. It will be essential to isolate the particular phobia as the dependent variable. The independent variables will be the various experiential characteristics relating to the individual's experiences as they may have contributed to the phobia.

Qualitative data will be gathered from a sample that is evenly distributed across gender and represents an accurate diversity commensurate with the general population of the community in which the study is conducted. All respondents will be between the ages of 25 and 55 so as to prevent any overlap with the sociological stressors of post-adolescence or retirement age. This data will be gathered through two primary methods. The first will be one-on-one interviews with respondents that will be structured like cognitive behavioral therapy sessions designed to reach the root causes of individual traumas. This would be supplemented with group sessions in which respondents, divided into subsets of 10, would interface on subjects including shared experiences relating to the symptoms of phobia or to memories concerning a latent trauma or series of sustained traumas.

Hypothesis:

The proposed study, the primary research question and the methodology delineated here above underscore the basic hypothesis that sufferers of a common phobia are likely also to share common characteristics where formative traumas are concerned.

Part II:

As denoted by the proposal here above, there is significant anticipated value in producing a study that might assist in the treatment of phobias and other panic related disorders. According to the research conducted in preliminary anticipation of a broader research engagement, it becomes evident that behaviorism is a wholly appropriate framework through which to approach the persistence of trauma. Indeed, the formulation of phobia is often a type of learned behavior that behaviorists theorize calls for a process of reconditioning.

On this point, Naik (1998) connects critical ideas by behavioral theoriest B.F. Skinner to the development of trauma as part of a survival instance called operant conditioning. According to Naik, "n an attempt to convince his critics of the validity of his theory of operant conditioning, Skinner drew some interesting parallels between his theory and Darwin's theory of natural selection. According to Skinner, operant conditioning is nothing more than "a second kind of selection by consequences" (Skinner, 1984b, p. 477). He pointed out that although natural selection was necessary for the survival of the species, operant conditioning was necessary for an individual to learn." (Naik, p. 1)

This denotes that behaviorism provides a suitable theoretical framework for the proposed study. Moreover, the value of any research which might advance the treatment of trauma-related phobia is of critical importance. This is because phobias are highly common in the general population and further because a failure to treat phobias in adults can lead to permanent and deepening fears and irrational behaviors. Gersey (2001) reports that "approximately 4 to 5% of the U.S. population has one or more clinically significant phobias in a giving year (NIMH). Specific phobias affect an estimated 6.3 million adult Americans and are twice as common in women as in men (About). The average age of onset for social phobia is between 15 and 20 years of age, although it can begin… READ MORE