There are many theories that try to explain the acquisition of phobias. Why do you think some phobias are more common than others? In this article we will know Seligman’s theory of preparation , which tries to explain this phenomenon.

The theory refers to two main concepts, the preparation (phylogenetic aspects) and the predisposition (ontogenetic aspects) for the development of phobias. If you want to know why you are more likely to be afraid of heights, fire or snakes than afraid of doors, for example, read on!

Theory of Seligman’s preparation: characteristics

Martin Seligman was the researcher who established the readiness theory. According to this theory, the organism is prepared phylogenetically (through an evolutionary process of the species) to associate or learn the relationship between certain stimuli with ease (primary stimulus biologically to be associated with a response), because this learning is adaptive .

Seligman’s theory of preparation arises as an opposition to the principle of equipotentiality, which held that all stimuli could elicit phobic responses. Thus, according to Seligman, only some stimuli would be prepared to originate phobias. These would be the dangerous stimuli that put the survival of the species at risk, such as lions, snakes, heights, fire, etc.

Seligman, in a certain way, conceives phobias as powerful tools of adaptation of the species , which increase the probability of survival and perpetuation of the same.

Central concepts of the theory

Seligman’s theory of preparation consists of two fundamental concepts, which are as follows.

1. Preparation

It refers to phylogenetic aspects , typical of an evolutionary process of the species. There are three types of stimuli in terms of their “degree” or level of preparation:

1.1. Prepared stimuli

These are stimuli biologically prepared to be learned as harmful (e.g. associating an unpleasant taste with a tummy ache).

1.2. Unprepared stimuli

These are stimuli that are eventually acquired through certain tests (e.g. in laboratory situations; light beams that are associated with an aversive stimulus after several tests). These would be “neutral” stimuli, with no biological charge to be acquired, in this sense.

1.3. Counteracting stimuli

These are the stimuli that are impossible to learn, that is, impossible to associate with a given concept (for example, an electric shock, which is not associated with a tummy ache).

2. Predisposition

It refers to ontogenetic aspects, i.e. individual differences resulting from the development of the organism .

The Garcia effect

From Seligman’s theory of preparation, another interesting and widely used concept in learning psychology arises, which is related to the concept of “preparation” already mentioned: the Garcia effect.

This effect tells us about an aversion to the acquired taste; was discovered from the study of some rats, when they found that they associated an unpleasant taste with a tummy ache, since they are prepared to associate such a taste with the disease (so that we can understand each other, because of their “direct” or “similarity” between the taste and the tummy).

On the other hand, the rats are prepared to establish an association between taste and electrical discharges (because of their lack of “similarity” or relationship between a stimulus).

The Garcia effect highlights or explains the easy acquisition of conditioned nausea in oncological patients; that is, these patients end up associating the taste (bad taste) of the chemotherapy with subsequent vomiting, and therefore end up conditioning themselves.

Characteristics of phobias

According to Seligman’s theory of preparation, phobias meet 4 characteristics in accordance with the concept of preparation:

1. Selectivity

Certain stimuli produce fear more easily than others . This implies that phobias, as we have already mentioned, are crucial for the survival of species.

2. Easy acquisition

One test is enough to acquire a phobia (and it does not necessarily have to be a traumatic stimulus).

3. Resistance to extinction

Phobias are strongly resistant to extinction (resistant to disappearance). This is the most characteristic aspect of phobias, according to Seligman’s theory of preparation.

4. Irrationality

Finally, there is a disproportion between the real danger of the stimulus and the anxiety response it produces, that is, phobias are irrational .

Reformulation of the theory

Öhman reformulated Seligman’s theory of preparation , and differentiated two types of phobias, according to their evolutionary origin:

1. Non-communicative origin

These are phobias of heights, closed spaces, agoraphobia, etc. That is, do not have a “social” or communicative function .

2. Communicative origin

These would be phobias that play a communicative role between species; for example, phobias of animals and social phobias.

Animal phobias would be species-specific (appearing not only in humans), and would involve escape or defense, especially in childhood. On the other hand, social phobias would be intraspecific (typical of the human species), originating responses of dominance and submission , which frequently appear in adolescence.

Bibliographic references:

Belloch, A.; Sandin, B. and Ramos, F. (2010). Manual of Psychopathology. Volume I and II. Madrid: McGraw-Hill.
Clark, D. A. and Beck, A. T. (2012). Cognitive therapy for anxiety disorders. Madrid: Desclée de Brouwer.