Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias

Question 1

The Two Process Model

Answer 1

• classical conditioning and operant conditioning
• Oval Hobart Mower (1960)- argued that phobias are learned by classical conditioning and maintained by operant conditioning- 2 process

Question 2

Acquisition by Classical Conditioning

Answer 2

-Association 
phobia 
UCS(being bitten) - UCR (anxiety)
NS(Dog)- no response 
UCS+NS(being bitten+ dog)- UCR(anxiety)
CS(🐶 )- CR(anxiety)

Question 3

Little Albert- conditioned fear

Answer 3

• Watson and Raynor (1920)- fear of rats- conditioned in L. Albert
  1- Albert plated with a white rat- loud noise made close to his ear (UCS)- fear response (USR)
  2-🐀 -(NS)not create fear until bang and 🐀 paired several times
  3- Albert showed a fear response (CR) when in contact with 🐀 (CS)

Question 4

Generalisation of fear to other stimulus

Answer 4

-objects showed fear response- eg white furry objects- Santa mask

Question 5

Maintenance by operant conditioning (negative reinforcement )

Answer 5

-OC - when behaviour is reinforced or punished
- negative reinforcement- producing behaviour to avoid something unpleasant
when a phobic- avoids phobic stimulus they escape the anxiety that would have been experienced
the reduction in fear Negatively reinforces the avoidance behaviour and the phobia is maintained

Question 6

example of negative reinforcement

Answer 6

• morbid fear of clowns( coilrophobia)- avoiders circuses and other situations where they encounter clowns
  this relief felt from avoiding negatively reinforces the phobia and ensures it is maintained rather than confronted

Question 7

Evaluation of the behavioural approach explaining phobias

Answer 7

strength- 2 process model is good a good explanation- 2 process model went beyond Watson and Rayners simple classical conditioning explanation of phobias- importnat implication’s for therapy eg-if a patient Is prevented from practising their avoidance behaviour then phobic behaviour declines- T4 the application to therapy is a strength

limitation- 2 process model doesn’t consider cognitive aspects of phobias- behavioural explanations oriented towards explaining behaviour thatcher than cognition- 2 process model explains maintenance of phobias in terms of avoidance- but phobias also have a cognitive element- T4 2 process theory does not adequately address the cognitive element

limitation- not all bad experiences lead to phobias- sometimes phobias do appear following a bad experience and it is easy to see how they could be the result of conditioning- sometimes people have bad experiences and don’t develop phobias (DiNardo et al 1988) T4 2 process theory does not adequately address the cognitive element of phobias