behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Question 1

2 process model

Answer 1

a theory that explains the two process model that lead to the development of phobias- they begin through classical conditioning and are maintained through operant conditioning

Question 2

classical conditioning: initiation

Answer 2

• phobia is acquired through association between NS and UCS being paired together

e.g. being bitten by a dog (UCS) creates fear (UCR), dog (NS) associated with being bitten (UCS), dog (now CS) produces fear (now CR)

Question 3

operant conditioning: maintenance

Answer 3

• the avoidance of the phobic stimulus reduces fear and is therefore reinforcing= example of negative reinforcement (escaping an unpleasant situation so it is rewarded)

Question 4

social learning

Answer 4

• not a part of the two-process model but is a neo-behaviourist explanation
• phobias may be acquired through modelling the behaviours of others, so from seeing a parent being scared of a spider therefore the child imitates it because it seems rewarding

Question 5

evaluation: What is the importance of classical conditioning

Answer 5

• people with phobias often recall specific incidents (sue et al.), however not everyone experiences this.
• sue et al. Suggest that diff phobias may be result of diff processes e.g. modelling

Question 6

evaluation- Diathesis-stress model

Answer 6

• (Di Nardo at al) found that not everyone who is bitten by a dog develops this fear of them.
• therefore proposes we have a genetic vulnerability for developing mental disorders but will only be shown if triggered

Question 7

evaluation: support for social learning

Answer 7

• Bandura and Rosenthal supported social learning. Model acted in pain when a buzzer sounded, participants who observed showed emotional reactions to buzzer as fear response

Question 8

evaluation: biological preparedness

Answer 8

• phobias not developed after incident can be explained through this
• Martin Seligman/ animals and humans are genetically programmed to have ancient fears (things that would have been life-threatening in the past) which explains why humans are not scared of things such as toasters

Question 9

evaluation: what does this approach ignore

Answer 9

• ignores cognitive factors/ which proposes that phobias may be a result of irrational thinking, this leads to anxiety and can cause phobias
• value of it is that it leads to CBT (cognitive-behaviour therapy)

Question 10

systematic desensitisation

Answer 10

• a form of behavioural therapy used to treat phobias and other anxiety disorders
• a client is gradually exposed to (or imagines) the threatening situation in relaxed conditions until the anxiety is distinguished./ Joseph Wolpe

Question 11

counterconditioning

Answer 11

this is the basis of the therapy because the patient is taught to associate something new that counters the original association (through classical cond) so anxiety is reduced

Question 12

relaxation

Answer 12

the therapist teaches relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises and being mindful of ‘here and now’

Question 13

desensitisation hierarchy

Answer 13

• SD works by gradually introducing the person to the feared situation one step at a time

Question 14

flooding

Answer 14

• a form of behavioural therapy used to treat anxiety disorders and other phobias
• the client is exposed to (or imagines) and extreme form of the situation until the fear is distinguished

Question 15

evaluation of SD

Answer 15

• research found that Sd is successful for a range of phobias/ McGrath et al. 75% of patients with phobias respond to SD + better in vivo (in person)
• not as effective for phobias that have an underlying evolutionary survival component
• fast, require less effort on patients part, this lack of thinking means it is easy for children and people suffering from disabilities to understand
• can be self administered

Question 16

evaluation of flooding

Answer 16

• not for every patient, can be highly traumatic but they can quit during procedure
• effective and quick e.g. choy et al. Said both treatments are effectuve but flooding more so

Question 17

further evaluation

Answer 17

• relaxation may not be necessary as it is more to do with the exposure to the situation
• may not work because the symptoms of the phobia may be just the tip of the iceberg so if the symptoms removed the cause still remains and they will resurface (called symptom substitution)