5. Behabioural Approach To Explaining Phobias

Question 1

What is the behavioural approach?

Answer 1

A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning

Question 2

What is the two process model ?

Answer 2

Phobias are acquired by classical conditioning and then maintain due to operant conditionioning

Question 3

Who proposed the two process model ?

Answer 3

Hobart Mowrer

Question 4

What is the neutral stimulus ?

Answer 4

A neutral stimulus is a stimulus which initially produces no specific response

Question 5

Explain classical conditioning?

Answer 5

where a NS is constantly paired with a UCS while producing an UCR

the NS eventually takes on the properties of this UCS

it then Becomes the CS capeable of producing a CR

Question 6

What is the first stage before conditioning?

Answer 6

A UCS naturally elicits a UCR whereas a NS produces no response

Question 7

What is Stage 2 during conditioning ?

Answer 7

The NS is experienced at the same time as UCS

This pairing may need to occur numerous times for learning to take place

Question 8

What is Stage 3 after conditioning ?

Answer 8

Once the two stimuli have become associated the NS becomes a CS that produces the response on its own ( now called the CR)

Question 9

What was the aim of little alberts study ?

Answer 9

To investigate whether phobias could be learned through the processes of classical conditioning

Question 10

What was the procedure in little alberts study ?

Answer 10

11 month old boy
Presented with a series of objects and animals which he showed no emotional response to
Neutral stimuli- the white rat which they presented while striking a bar with a hammer
Repeated for 3 weeks

Question 11

What were the findings in little Alberta study ?

Answer 11

Learned an association between the white rat and the noise and became frightened whenever he saw the rat. This fear generalised to other similar objects- fur coat

Question 12

What does reinforcement do ?

Answer 12

Increase the frequency of a behvay

Question 13

What is the first stage in maintenance by operant conditioning work Via negative reinforcement ?

Answer 13

An individual with social anxiety will feel a reduction in fear if they decide to avoid the phobic stimulus

Question 14

What is the second stage in maintenance by operant conditioning work Via negative reinforcement ?

Answer 14

This avoidance results in the removal of the unpleasant anxiety

Question 15

What is the third stage in maintenance by operant conditioning work Via negative reinforcement ?

Answer 15

Avoidance behaviour therefore acts as a negative reinforcement as it removes fear

Question 16

Supporting evidence for phobias being learned through classical conditioning

Answer 16

Research suggests many people do recall a specific incident relating to when their phobias first appeared such as being bitten by a dog of experiencing a panic attack (sue at al)

Question 17

It is a scientific explanation

Answer 17

The research used to support the explanation is easy to falsify. Using lab experiments the manipulation of the NS and measurement of CR and can be observed and tested

Question 18

Alternative explanations of biological preparedness may explain the initiation of phobias

Answer 18

Humans may be genetically programmed to rapidly learn an association between life-threatening stimuli and fear. These stimuli are ancient fears which would have threatened survival in the evolutionary past

Question 19

Conclusion of alternative explanations

Answer 19

This means the approach over- emphasises nurture and ignores the Role of nature (evolution) in phobias

Question 20

The behavioural explanation for phobias is accused of being reductionist

Answer 20

This means it attempts to explain phobias as being purely a result of simple stimulus-response learning associations and nothing else. This means that we may be ignoring biological and cognitive explanations for abnormalities such as imbalances of neurotransmitters and irrational thought processes

Question 21

Conclusion for reductionist

Answer 21

Phobias are most likely caused by a combination of different factors all working together, not simply conditioning

Question 22

what was the problem with little alberts phobia

Answer 22

it generalized to other white objects such as rabbit, fur coat and santa clause.

Question 23

what does operant conditioning not explain

Answer 23

why individuals continue to feel fearful or why individuals avoid the feared object

Question 24

what is avoidance of the phobic stimulus known as

Answer 24

Negative reinforcement

Question 25

What is the diathesis stress model ?

Answer 25

according to the two process model, an association between a neutral stimulus and a fearful experience will result in a phobia. research has found that not everyone who is bitten by a dog develops a phobia of them. This can be explained by the diathesis stress model. proposing that we inherit genetic vulnerability for developing mental disorders. However, a disorder will only manifest itself if triggered by a life event

Question 26

What is the support for the social learning theory ?

Answer 26

Support for social learning…..an experiment supported the social learning explanation. in the experiment a model acted as if he was in pain every time a buzzer sounded. later on those participants who observed this showed an emotional reaction to the buzzer, demonstrating an acquired ‘fear’ response.

Question 27

How does the approach ignore cognitive factors ?

Answer 27

the cognitive approach proposes that phobias may develop as the consequence of irrational thinking such thoughts increase anxiety and trigger a phobia. The value of this alternative explanation is that it leads to cognitive therapies such as CBT that may be more successful than the behaviourist treatments.

Question 28

What reaction did Albert have to the rat before he was conditioned?

Answer 28

He tried to play with it

Question 29

What is the unconditioned stimulus in the Little Albert experiment?

Answer 29

Loud noise

Question 30

What is the unconditioned response in the Little Albert experiment?

Answer 30

Fear

Question 31

What is the neutral stimulus in the Little Albert experiment?

Answer 31

Rat

Question 32

What is the conditioned stimulus in the Little Albert experiment?

Answer 32

The rat

Question 33

What is the conditioned response?

Answer 33

Fear of rat

Question 34

What did Mowrer suggest about avoidance of a phobic stimulus?

Answer 34

It results in a desirable consequence, meaning the behaviour will be repeated

Question 35

What is an issue with the idea of classical conditioning starting a phobia?

Answer 35

Some people develop phobias without having a bad experience

Question 36

What is biological preparedness? Seligman (1971)

Answer 36

The innate predisposition to acquire certain fears