Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias

Question 1

Outline the two-process model

Answer 1

Mowrer proposes this to explain how phobias are learned. The first stage is classical conditioning while the second is operant conditioning

Question 2

Describe the acquisition of phobias

Answer 2

Phobia is acquired through association. e.g. someone might develop a fear of dogs through being bitten: Bite (UCS) causes fear (UCR), dog (NS) associated with being bitten (UCS), dog (now CS) produces fear response (now CR)

Question 3

Describe the maintenance of phobias

Answer 3

• Classical condition doesn’t explain why the person continues to feel fearful.
• The avoidance of the phobic stimulus reduces fear and is thus reinforcing (negative reinforcement). The person avoids the anxiety created by the phobia

Question 4

Describe social learning as an explanation of phobias

Answer 4

Phobias may be acquired through modelling the behaviour of others. e.g. seeing parent react to a spider with extreme fear may lead to acquire similar behaviour as it appears rewarding (attention)

Question 5

Give evaluation of the behavioural approach to explaining phobias (two-process model)

Answer 5

There is support for the two-process model. Sue et al found those with phobias often recall an incident where their phobia appeared. However Ost argues not everyone with phobias can, incidents may have been forgotten. Sue at al suggests different phobias may be a result of different processes. e.g. agoraphobics were most likely to explain their disorder through an incident while arachnophobias were most likely to cite modelling as the cause. Demonstrates the role of classical conditioning in developing phobias, but other processes may be involved in the maintenance

Question 6

Give evaluation of the behavioural approach to explaining phobias (incomplete explanation)

Answer 6

Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event develops a phobia from it. DiNardo et al found 50% of non-phobic people had experienced an anxious encounter with a dog. If the two-process model was correct then everyone should’ve developed a phobia through classical conditioning. Therefore, means other factors can cause phobias.

Question 7

Give evaluation of the behavioural approach to explaining phobias (alternative explanation)

Answer 7

Alternate explanation of phobias. Seligman argued for biological preparedness (innate predisposition to acquire certain fears that has been passed down through evolution). e.g. things that would’ve been dangerous in the past (snakes, heights), it would have been adaptive rapidly to learn to avoid such stimuli. This explains why modern objects that are more of a threat (cars) are less likely to be phobias. So behavioural approach cannot explain all phobias