Psychology: Understanding PTSD and Classical Conditioning Theories

This assignment delves into the psychological aspects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and how it relates to classical conditioning, focusing on a person who has developed PTSD and avoids a specific intersection due to a traumatic experience. The analysis identifies the unconditioned stimulus as the intersection and the unconditioned response as driving towards it, explaining how the traumatic event led to a conditioned response of avoiding the intersection. The assignment suggests using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help the person overcome their fear by breaking the negative association between the intersection and the fear of accidents, ultimately aiming to achieve extinction of the conditioned response and enable comfortable driving to the original intersection. Desklib provides this assignment as a study resource, offering a platform for students to access similar solved assignments and enhance their understanding.

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:

1PSYCHOLOGY
Question 1
In terms of psychological disorders, the person has acquired Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) and in terms of learning, classical conditioning has occurred which has made
him avoid the intersection (Handy).
Question 2
Hence, considering the learning theories of classical conditioning, the unconditioned
stimulus here is the intersection and the unconditioned response is driving towards the specific
intersection. The traumatic event and neutral stimulus of the accident in combination with the
unconditioned stimulus of the intersection resulted in an accident, a sense of fear and a resultant
unconditioned response of avoiding or driving away from the intersection (Mauchnik). Repeated
flashbacks characteristic of PTSD has now resulted in a conditioning stimulus of accident near
the intersection resulting in fears, trauma and the learning or conditioning of a response of
avoiding the intersection. The person takes the alternate route since he has now become
conditioned to avoid the conditioned stimulus of an accident occurring at the intersection
resulting in his conditioned response of avoiding the intersection which is performed by driving
away from the intersection (Duits).
Question 3
In order to overcome his fear of the original intersection, the person must reach the stage
of ‘extinction’ in classical conditioning which is characterized by a reduction in conditioned
responses if the pairing between the unconditioned stimulus (the intersection) and conditioned

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stimulus (accidents near the intersection, fears) is stopped. Hence, cognitive behavioral learning
theories (CBT) can be used to where a psychologist can help the person to stop negatively
associating his fear of accidents with the intersection. CBT coupled with driving assistance and
support can help the person unlearn his fear of accidents and drive comfortably to the original
intersection (Graham).

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References
Duits, Puck, et al. "Updated meta‐analysis of classical fear conditioning in the anxiety
disorders." Depression and anxiety32.4 (2015): 239-253.
Graham, Bronwyn M., and Mohammed R. Milad. "Fear conditioning and
extinction." Neurophenotypes. Springer, Boston, MA, 2016. 139-155.
Handy, Justin D., et al. "Facilitated acquisition of the classically conditioned eyeblink response
in active duty military expressing posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms." Behavioural
brain research 339 (2018): 106-113.
Mauchnik, Jana, et al. "Classical Conditioning in Borderline Personality Disorder With and
Without Posttraumatic Stress Disorder* The first two authors contributed equally to this
work." Zeitschrift für Psychologie/Journal of Psychology(2015).