Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias Flashcards
what is the behavioural approach?
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suggests that all behaviours, including phobias, are learned rather than inherited
we are born blank slates and learn phobias through experience, which also suggests that phobias can be unlearned
key features….
• the two process model — proposed by Mowrer (1947) to explain how phobias are learned and maintained; classical conditioning explains how a phobia is acquired + operant conditioning explains why phobias continue
• social learning theory
two process model
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proposed by Mowrer (1947) to explain how phobias are learned and maintained
first stage = classical conditioning explains how a phobia is acquired
second stage = operant conditioning explains why phobias continue
classical conditioning
5
first proposed by Pavlov
explains how a phobia is acquired
learning through association — involves associating an object with fear or feelings of displeasure and developing a phobia of it
a NS is consistently paired up with a UCS so that it eventually takes on the properties of this stimulus and is able to produce a CR
demonstrated in the Little Albert experiment
Little Albert experiment (classical conditioning)
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conducted by Watson and Rayner (1920) to demonstrate how classical conditioning can lead to phobias
before conditioning — Albert showed no response to white furry objects, but the UCS (loud noise) resulted in the UCR (fear)
during conditioning — the NS (the white furry rat) was continuously paired up with the UCS (loud noise, created by a hammer on a steel bar) to create the UCR (fear)
after conditioning — the NS eventually became the CS and acquired the same properties as the UCS, producing the CR (fear) as Albert learned to associate the rat with the loud noise and therefore fear
when albert saw a white rat he cried and displayed distress as it was now associated with feelings of fear, originally resulting from the loud noise that was repeatedly paired up with the rat
his phobia of the rat was then generalised to other similar objects — he also showed anxiety when exposed to a white fur coat and a rabbit
operant conditioning
6
first demonstrated by Skinner
explains why phobias continue and are maintained
learning through reinforcement or punishment
the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated is increased if the outcome is rewarding, in phobias the avoidance of the phobic stimulus reduces fear and is thus rewarding
this is an example of negative reinforcement (escaping from an unpleasant situation) which causes the person to be more likely to continue to avoid the object of fear as they are also avoiding the anxiety created by that stimulus
in doing so, the phobia is maintained
social learning theory
3
social learning theory is not part of the two process model but is a neo-behaviourist explanation for phobias
phobias may be acquired through modelling the behaviour of others
for example, seeing a parent respond to a spider with extreme fear may lead a child to acquire similar behaviour because the behaviour seems rewarding as the fearful person gets attention
x3 evaluation points
diathesis stress model
ignores cognitive factors
led to the development of treatments
evaluation
DIATHESIS STRESS MODEL
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a limitation is that there is challenging research accompanied by an alternative explanation for phobias
according to the two process model, an association between a NS and a fearful experience will result in a phobia
but research has found that not everyone bitten by a dog develops a phobia of dogs
this could be explained by the diathesis stress model, which proposes that we inherit a genetic vulnerability for developing mental disorders like phobias
a phobia will only manifest itself if triggered by a life event, so a dog bite will only lead to a phobia of dogs if a person has such a genetic vulnerability
evaluation
IGNORES COGNITIVE FACTORS
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a limitation is that it ignores the cognitive factors involved in the acquiring and maintaining of phobias — these factors cannot be explained in a traditionally behaviourist framework
does not consider the notion that phobias may develop as a consequence of irrational thinking, such thoughts can create extreme anxiety and trigger a phobia
this cognitive explanation has led to cognitive therapies such as CBT, which may be more successful than behaviourist treatments — for example, Engels found that social phobias responds better to CBT
evaluation
DEVELOPMENT OF TREATMENTS
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a strength of the two process model is that it has led to the development of treatments for the reduction of anxiety associated with phobias
systematic desensitisation is a therapy based of classical conditioning, it eliminates the learned anxious response associated with the feared object or situation
it tries to get the patient to substitute the learned response of anxiety with relaxation so they learn to associate a feeling of calm with the feared object and are no longer anxious in the presence of the phobic stimulus
this has been found to be effective in treating a range of phobias, including arachnophobia and aerophobia
