Final answer:
Phobias can be best understood through perspectives including evolutionary psychology, theories of preparedness, conditioning, psychoanalytic views, and neurobiological research, all of which highlight the complex interplay between innate predispositions and learned behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The instructor suggested that phobias could best be seen through the lens of several psychological theories and studies. One approach is viewing phobias as biologically preprogrammed through evolutionary history, which posits that phobias are adaptive reactions that have become maladaptive in modern society. This perspective is supported by the work of Seligman, who introduced the concept of preparedness, suggesting that certain fears are innate and were historically advantageous for survival. Furthermore, studies by Öhman and Mineka on fears and preparedness support the idea that some phobias may derive from an evolved module of fear response.
The learner could also consider the role of conditioning, as shown by Cook and Mineka's research on observational conditioning of fear in rhesus monkeys, and Olsson and Phelps' work on the social learning of fear. Freud's psychoanalytic perspective might contribute to understanding the individual's personal history and the symbolic meaning of phobias. Lastly, modern research suggests that phobias have both a psychological and neurological basis, with potential brain-behavior relationships identified by Saxena, Bota, and Brody. Considering all these angles, phobias may be best understood as complex phenomena with evolutionary, psychological, and neurobiological dimensions.