behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Question 1

what is the two-process model?

Answer 1

● argues that phobias are learned / acquired through classical conditioning

● but are then maintained through operant conditioning

Question 2

what is classical conditioning?

Answer 2

● phobias learned via classical conditioning when associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus that causes fear

● resulting in a conditioned stimulus that produces a conditioned response of fear

Question 3

what was the little albert study?

Answer 3

● watson & rayner conditioned a baby boy known as little albert to fear white rats

● fear ended up being generalised to other similar objects: rabbit, white mask, santa and fur coat

Question 4

what is generalisation?

Answer 4

phobia is generalised to other similar objects meaning you are also afraid of them

Question 5

how are phobias maintained?

Answer 5

operant conditioning

Question 6

explain how phobias are maintained

Answer 6

● whenever a person avoids phobic stimulus, they successfully escape the feelings of fear and anxiety they would have experienced if they had remained there

● this reduction of fear / anxiety reinforces the avoidance behaviour

● thus, the phobia is maintained

● this is negative reinforcement

Question 7

evaluation

Answer 7

● strengths:
p: real-world application
e: now know that phobias formed due to past negative association - but also how they are maintained over time due to negative reinforcement reducing the anxiety
has allowed sd to replace association of anxiety with phobia stimulus to feeling calm and relaxation
c: shows value of two-process approach - identifies a means of treating phobias

p: linking phobias to bad experiences
e: research found 73% of dental phobics have experienced dentistry related trauma
21% with low dental anxiety have experienced the same trauma
c: confirms that association between a previously neutral stimulus (dentistry) and an unconditioned stimulus (pain) leads to a conditioned phobia

● limitations:
p: inability of model to explain all aspects of phobias
e: behavioural explanations (2-process model) better for explaining behavioural characteristics - such as avoidance of phobic stimulus
however - now know phobias also how significant cognitive component e.g. people show irrational beliefs about phobic stimulus
c: means 2-process model does not fully explain symptoms of phobia - could also mean treatments like sd do not fully cure phobia as only focus on behavioural characteristics

p: not all phobias follow a bad experience
e: snake and shark phobias occur in populations where very few people have any experiences of snakes and sharks
also, not all frightening experiences lead to phobias
c: means that behavioural theories are reductionist and do not provide a complete explanation for phobias - some phobias better explained by evolutionary factors