behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Question 1

Mowrer

Answer 1

proposed the two-process model based on the behavioural approach to phobias

Question 2

what does the two process model state about phobias?

Answer 2

they are acquired by classical conditioning and continue because of operant conditioning

Question 3

classical conditioning

Answer 3

learning to associate something which we initially have no fear of (neutral stimulus) with something that triggers a fear response (unconditioned stimulus)

Question 4

Watson and Rayner

Answer 4

• crated a phobia in a 9 month old baby “little albert”
• albert had no fear of the white rat
• when the white rat was presented so was a loud noise
• white fluffy things then scared him

Question 5

unconditioned stimulus in little albert

Answer 5

the loud noise

Question 6

what does the unconditioned stimulus create?

Answer 6

an unconditioned response

Question 7

what did the rat become in little albert?

Answer 7

conditioned stimulus which produces a conditioned response

Question 8

when does operant conditioning take place?

Answer 8

when behaviour is reinforced or punished

Question 9

negative reinforcement

Answer 9

an individual avoids a situation that’s unpleasant which results in a desirable consequence so the behaviour is repeated

Question 10

Mowrer - operant conditioning

Answer 10

whenever we avoid phobic stimulus we escape fear and anxiety this reinforces avoidance behaviour so the phobia is maintained

Question 11

Good explanatory power

Answer 11

explains how phobias are maintained which lead to important implications for therapy as it explains the patients need to be exposed to the feared stimulus.
When the patient is prevented from carrying out avoidance behaviour the behaviour is not maintained so therefore declines.

Question 12

ignores cognitive factors

Answer 12

proposes some phobias may develop due to irrational thinking.
Some phobias are not acquired through trauma so can’t be a result of conditioning e.g some people may have a fear of snakes even though they haven’t seen a snake before.

Question 13

Real-World Application

Answer 13

explains using two distinctive elements how phobias are created and maintained.
Watson and Rayner’s ‘Little Albert’ study supports the two-process model as they showed how a frightening experience can be conditioned.

Question 14

some people can recall a specific event that led to the phobia

Answer 14

Sue et al found that agoraphobics are more likely to explain their phobia in terms of a specific event which shows classical conditioning can be involved in developing phobias