Behavioural explanation of phobias

Question 1

two process model

Answer 1

phobias learned with classical conditioning and maintained with operant conditioning (Mowrer)

Question 2

classical conditioning

Answer 2

• UCS, UCR, NS, CS, CR
• UCS = fear response, fear = UCR, NS = assosiated UCS, NS becomes CS producing fear (now CR),
• little albert, condtioined fear -white rates + noise
• generalisation of fear - albert scard of fluffy animals

Question 3

maintenance by operant conditioning

Answer 3

• negative reinforcement - individuals behavior to avoid the unpleasant experience
• escape anxiety would have experienced
• reduction in fear negative reinforcement avoidance so phobia maintained

Question 4

+ 2 process has good explanatory power

beyond watson, cant avoid - reduced

Answer 4

• went beyond watsons theory
• if patient cant avoid phobia, its reduced
• this application is a strength

Question 5

• not all bad experiences lead to phobias

diNardo, bitten, not phobia

Answer 5

• DiNardo said can be bitter by dog and not get phobia
• suggests just conditioning cant explain phobias
• may only develop with vunerability

Question 6

• 2 process doesn’t properly consider cognitive aspects

behaviour rather cognition

Answer 6

• explains behavior rather than cognition/thinking, explained with avoidance but also cognitive aspects
• don’t adequately address cognitive