Behavioural Approach in Phobias

Question 1

Who proposed the two-process model to explain phobias?

Answer 1

Mower, 1960

Question 2

What does Mowrer’s two-process model suggest?

Answer 2

phobias acquired by classical conditioning and are maintained through operant conditioning

Question 3

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 3

involves learning through association

Question 4

What piece of research shows how classical conditioning relates to phobias?

Answer 4

Watson and Raynor’s Little Albert Experiment

Question 5

How did Watson and Raynor demonstrate the involvement of classical conditioning in phobias?

Answer 5

Little Albert
9 month old
When white rat (NS) presented to Albert a loud noise was made (UCS) creating fear (UCR)
White rat (CS) begins to produce fear response (CR)

Question 6

How does operant conditioning maintain phobias?

Answer 6

through reinforcement
positive and negative

Question 7

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 7

being rewarded for a particular behaviour which increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated

Question 8

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 8

removing a negative stimulus for a particular behaviour which increases the likelihood of that behaviour

Question 9

How is negative reinforcement used in phobias?

Answer 9

individual avoids situations with a phobic stimulus removing the unpleasant feelings

Question 10

How can we evaluate the behavioural approach in explaining phobias?

Answer 10

R: Link between bad experiences and phobias- Little Albert experiment provides evidence- association of white rat and loud noise lead to development of phobia- increases validity from objective research
HOWEVER
Not all phobias result of experience- some with snake phobias have never come into contact with snakes- damages validity and strength of link
A: Doesn’t account for cognitive aspects- example: irrational beliefs for phobic stimulus (small spider is dangerous)- two-process model explains avoidance behaviour but not adequate explanation for phobic cognitions- doesn’t extend to all behaviours involved with phobias
I: Exposure therapies- example: systemic desensitisation and flooding- two process model states phobia maintained by avoidant behaviour towards phobic stimulus- exposure therapies ceases effects of avoidant behaviour- individual forced to contact phobic stimulus- identifies means of treating phobias- high ecological validity
E: Evolutionary Theory: example: acquire fear of stimuli which have presented danger in evolutionary past (snakes)- Seligman referred to this as preparedness- is this a better explanation for phobias? LINK TO ALL BEHAVIOUR

Question 11

What are the two types of behavioural therapies to treat phobias?

Answer 11

Systematic desensitisation
Flooding

Question 12

What is systematic desensitisation?

Answer 12

behavioural therapy designed to gradually reduce phobic anxiety through principles of classical conditioning

Question 13

What is flooding?

Answer 13

behavioural therapy involving immediate to situation with phobic stimulus

Question 14

What are the three processes to systematic desensitisation?

Answer 14

1. Anxiety Hierarchy
2. Relaxation
3. Exposure

Question 15

What is an anxiety hierarchy?

Answer 15

list of situations related to phobic stimulus which provoke anxiety and are arranged from least to most frightening

Question 16

What is exposure?

Answer 16

client exposed to phobic stimulus in situations based on anxiety hierarchy (low to high) whilst in relaxed state

Question 16

What is relaxation?

Answer 16

therapist teaches client to relax through breathing exercises and mental imagery techniques. impossible to be afraid and relaxed at same time- reciprocal inhibition (one emotion prevents the other)

Question 17

How does flooding work?

Answer 17

without option of avoidant behaviour client immediately exposed to phobic stimulus in which the client learns the stimulus is harmless (extinction)

Question 18

What is extinction in classical conditioning?

Answer 18

learned response is extinguished when the conditioned response is encountered without the unconditioned stimulus

Question 19

How can we evaluate systematic desensitisation?

Answer 19

R: Gilroy et al- followed up 42 people who received SD for spider phobia- found SD group less fearful than control (treated with relaxation and no exposure)- shows effectiveness of treatment- increases validity
A:
I: Learning Disabilities- some requiring treatment for phobias have learning disabilities- may struggle with cognitive therapy as they require complex, rational thought- may struggle with flooding as it is confusing, traumatic and distressing- SD most appropriate treatment for those with learning disabilities- increases applicability and thus validity
S:
E:

Question 20

How can we evaluate flooding?

Answer 20

R: Symptom substitution- masks symptoms and doesn’t address underlying cause of phobias- Persons found woman whose fear of death reduced with flooding but fear of being criticised worsened- damages validity to effectiveness of treatment
HOWEVER
Symptom substitution mainly in form of case studies- idiographic- questions generalisability
A:
I: Cost-effective- clinically effective and not expensive- SD may require 10 sessions however flooding can be successful in one session- beneficial for health systems like NHS- improves applicability and usefulness in wider world
Ethical Issues- highly traumatic evades ‘no psychological harm’- extreme and provokes tremendous anxiety- Schumaker et al found participants and therapists rated flooding as more stressful than SD- raises severe ethical issues as therapists actively utilising stressful technique- higher attrition rates- therapist may avoid its use due to complications- reduces applicability due to ethical implications
S:
E: