behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Question 1

two process model

Answer 1

mowrer 1947

explains how phobias are learned

phobias initiate becuase of classical conditioning and are maintained through operant conditioning

Question 2

initiation

Answer 2

phobias are initiated through classical conditioning where a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned response through repeated presentations, as shown by the little albert experiment

Question 3

little albert

Answer 3

shown white rate which was repeatedly paired with frightening noise

over time, he learned to associate the rat with the frightening noise

Question 4

maintenance

Answer 4

phobias continue due to operant conditioning

learn through reinforcemnet or punishment

• if we carry out a behaviour that is negatively reinforced it is more likely to be repeated
• if we carry out a behaviour that is punished, it is less likely to be carried out

Question 5

strength 1 two process model

Answer 5

strong supportiing research evidence

sue et al interviewed people with phobias, and found that many of them attributed the start of their phobia to a specific traumatic event

e.g. experiencing a panic attack in a social situation

shows that classical conditioning and the role of association is clearly important in the initiation of a phobia

Question 6

limit 1

Answer 6

environmentally reductionist

as it inappropriately explains complex human behaviours, such as phobias, at a basical level

contradicting research comes from Di Nardo et all who found in their study using questionnaires that not everyone who is bitten by a dog develops a phobia of dogs

this suggests that phobias dont always form following anegative experience in our environment like the two process model suggests, weakening its credibility

Question 7

limit 2

Answer 7

environmentally determinist

suggests phoibas are only caused by external environmental factors, such as classical and operant conditioning

other psychologists such as Seligman argue that some phobias are genetically predisposed to aid our survival, such as the fear of snakes

suggests not all phobias have environmental causations like the behavioural approach suggests, weakening its usefulness

Question 8

limit 3

Answer 8

ignores cognitive aspects of a phobia

because these cognitive factors cannot be explained in a traditionally behaviourist framework

for example, a person who thinks they might die if trapped in a life might become extremely anxious and this may trigger a phobia about lifts. this shows irrational thinking is also involved in the development of phobias

this would explain why cognitive therapies are more successful in treating phobias than behavioural treatments