writing about learning lesson of Physiology

cafe assignment 3

question

Think of someone at home, work, or school whose behaviour someone would like to change (it could even be someone's own behaviour you would like to change). Using what you now know about Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, or Observational Learning, formulate a detailed plan for changing the target person's particular behaviour. Clearly define key concepts and learning processes from the theory you have chosen, and outline how these concepts and processes apply someone's plan for behaviour change. In someone's responses to others, offer alternate suggestions to change behaviour based on the learning theory.

My friend escapes and avoids all social gatherings, meeting up with someone new, and interactions because that causes him irrational anxiety, fear and embarrassment. 
This happens due to the fear of events in which one might be judged, worry about being embarrassed or humiliated.

the development of this phobia could be explained through classical conditioning.

In the above example, the fear has developed as a result of a paired association between a neutral stimulus and feared stimulus. (Classical conditioning phase)

Being judged or humiliated by someone is the conditioned stimulus. 
Meeting up with someone new is an Unconditioned stimulus. 
Fear or anxiety of being offended or embarrassed is the conditioned Response.

Because of the paired association between meeting someone new and being humiliated, he continues to miss Or escape social gatherings.

He maintains his phobia by continuing to avoid social meetings because this coping strategy helps him to escape such humiliation. 
In this way, avoidance of social meetings has become a reward and reinforces his behavior of social avoidance. (Operant conditioning phase)

Step-by-step explanation

To change my friend's this particular behavior response, Systematic desensitization can be used. It is a behavioral therapy based on the principle of classical conditioning. ... 
To remove his fear response to social gatherings a relaxation response has to be substituted in the place of his conditional stimulus( judged) gradually using counter conditioning.

Step 1.
My friend Y must be taught a deep muscle relaxation technique and breathing exercises

Step 2
Fear hierarchy must be made starting at stimuli that create the least anxiety (fear) and building up in stages to the most fear provoking images.

Example: 

unpleasant stimuli  - Aversion level 
meeting a new person      10
Meeting at a social party  15
Malls                                      25
Wedding                                40

Step 3
As my friend reaches a state of deep relaxation he is asked to imagine the least unpleasant stimuli and practice his relaxation  technique as they go.
 

When the unpleasant situation fails to evoke any anxiety at all, it is sign that the therapy has been successful.