Behavioural approach: explaining phobias

Question 1

Two-process model

Explaining phobias

Answer 1

Mowrer proposed two-process model based on behavioural app to phobias
States that phobias are acquired by classical conditioning and then continue due to operant conditioning

Question 2

Acquisition by classical conditioning

Explaining phobias

Answer 2

Watson & Rayner created a phobia in a 9-month-old baby called Little Albert
Rat presented to Albert alongside loud noise
Noise if UCS which creates UCR of fear
When rate (NS) & UCS are encountered together NS becomes associated w/ UCS & both now produce fear response
Rate is now CS that produces CR

This conditioning then generalised to similar objects

Question 3

Maintenance by operant conditioning

Explaining phobias

Answer 3

Responses acquired by CS tend to decline over time
Operant conditioning takes place when our behaviour is reinforced or punished
Reinforcement tends to increase frequency of a behaviour
In neg reinforcement, inidividual avoids situation that is unpleasant
Such behaviour results in desirable consequence which means behaviour will be repeated
Mowrer suggested that whenever we avoid a phobic stimulus we successfully escape fear & anxiety that we would’ve experienced if we had remained there
This reduction in fear reinforces avoidance behaviour so phobia is maintained

Question 4

Evaluation: Real-world application

Explaining phobias

Answer 4

Strength: real-world application i exposure therapies
DIstinctive element of two-process model is idea that phobias are maintained by avoidance of phobic stimulus
Importany in explaining why people w/ phobias benefit from being exposed to phobic stimulus
Once avoidance behaviour is prevented it ceases to be reinforced by experience of anxiety reduction & avoidance therefore declines
In behaviourial terms phobia is avoidance behaviour so when this avoidance is prevented phobia is cured
Therefore, shows value of two-process approach as it identifies a means of treating phobias

Question 5

Evaluation: Cognitive aspects of phobias

Explaining phobias

Answer 5

Limit: doesn’t account for cog aspects of phobias
Behavioural explanations, including two-process model, are geared towards explaining behaviour
In case of phobias, key behaviour is avoidance of phobic stimulus
However, we know that phobias are not simply avoidance responses - they also have sig cog component
E.g. people hold irrational beliefs about phobic stimulus
Two-process model explains avoidance behaviour but doesn’t offer adequate explanation for phobic cognitions
Therefore, two-process model doesn’t completely explain symptoms of phobias

Question 6

Evaluation: Phobias & traumatic experiences

Explaining phobias

Answer 6

Strength: evidence for link between bad experiences & phobias
Little Albert study illustrates how frightening experience involving a stimulus can lead to phobia of that stimulus
De Jongh et al found that 73% of people w/ fear of dental treatment had a traumatic experience, mostly involving dentristry
Compared to control group of people w/ low dental anxiety where only 21% had traumatic experience
Therefore, confirms association between stimulus & UCR does lead to development of phobia

Question 7

Evaluation: Phobias & traumatic experiences (Counterpoint)

Explaining phobias

Answer 7

Not all phobias appear following a bad experience
Some common phobias (i.e. snakes) occur in populations where very few people ahve any experience of snakes let alone traumatic experiences
Also not all frightening experiences lead to phobias
Therefore, association between phobias & frightening experiences is not as strong as we would expect if behavourial theories provided complete explanation