behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Question 1

phobias

Answer 1

Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder. Phobias are characterized by a marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable, cued by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situation (e.g. flying, heights, seeing blood).

Question 2

two process model

Answer 2

The behavioral approach explains the development and maintenance of phobia mainly using the theories of classical conditioning and operant conditioning. These were first combined as a single explanation for phobia by Mowrer, in the two-process model of phobia.

According to the behaviorists, phobias are the result of a classically conditioned association between an anxiety provoking unconditioned stimulus (UCS) and a previously neutral stimulus. For example, a child with no previous fear of dogs gets bitten by a dog and from this moment onwards associates the dog with fear and pain. Due to the process of generalisation the child is not just afraid of the dog who bit them, but shows a fear of all dogs.

Question 3

two process model(operant conditioning)

Answer 3

Operant conditioning can help to explain how the phobia is maintained. The conditioned (i.e. learned) stimulus evokes fears, and avoidance of the feared object or situation lessens this feeling, which is rewarding. The reward (negative reinforcement) strengths the avoidance behavior, and the phobia is maintained

Question 4

evaluation (good explanatory power)

Answer 4

explains maintenance of phobias over time , this is important for therapies:need to expose people to the phobia to prevent avoidance

Question 5

incomplete explanation of phobias over time

Answer 5

evolution may play an important role , 2 process model can’t explain every phobia.Theory of biological preparedness states that :
-we have adapted to avoid stimuli that are a threat to the environment
eg height and the dark
These fears are innate
-

Question 6

not all phobias follow a trauma

Answer 6

could have a fear of snakes -but never seen one
however:
many people can recall a specific incident (60% dog phobias and half of driving phobias can link ito to a specific event

association is not enough for all people - there are individual differences in the development of phobias