Final answer:
Classical conditioning may lead to the development of anxiety disorders by associating fear with a previously neutral stimulus, while operant conditioning reinforces the avoidance behavior that reduces anxiety, further entrenching the disorder.
Step-by-step explanation:
An environmental factor of conditioning and learning that causes anxiety disorders is: classical conditioning may cause fear of a particular object or scenario. Then, avoidance is negatively reinforced through operant conditioning, by making the person feel less anxious. In classical conditioning, an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that naturally elicits an unconditioned response (UCR) is paired with a neutral stimulus until the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS), eliciting a conditioned response (CR) similar to the UCR. Over time, the individual learns to associate the CS with fear or anxiety. When they avoid the CS and subsequently feel a reduction in anxiety, this is reinforced through operant conditioning, which increases the likelihood that they will continue to avoid the object or scenario, reinforcing the anxiety disorder.
Examples of these psychological principles can be observed in experiments like that of Little Albert by Watson and Rayner, where a child developed a fear of furry objects through classical conditioning, and studies indicating that animals exhibit learned behaviors like aversion or preference based on their experiences. Such behavioral patterns are critical to understanding how avoidance in anxiety can be maintained through negative reinforcement.