Behavioural explanations for phobias

Question 1

how are phobias formed

Answer 1

CC

Question 2

how are phobias maintained

Answer 2

OP

Question 3

explain cc and phobias

Answer 3

cc - associate neutral stimulus with unconditioned noxious response

Question 4

explain OP and phobias

Answer 4

negative reinforcement
- escape - remove noxious stimuli through avoiding the conditioned stimulus

Question 5

how are phobias treated

Answer 5

• systematic desensitisation
• flooding

Question 6

diagnostic criteria

Answer 6

• persistent fear
• anxiety elicited
• recognised as unreasonable
• avoids / endures fear with difficulty
• interferes with daily life

Question 7

what is Mowrers 2 process model

Answer 7

1 phobia is learnt (CC)
2 phobia is maintained (OP)
- neg reinforcement if not - decays

Question 8

differences with CC and OP

Answer 8

CC = involuntary responses
- stimuli is novel
- reflex - follows stim
- measured, by speed / response level

OP = response is voluntary
- behaviours are novel
- measured by rate of behaviour production

Question 9

EVAL = Watson and Rayner (1920)

Answer 9

• little albert (CC)

Question 10

Eval = Sue (1994)

Answer 10

• traumatic incident incites phobia

Question 11

Eval = Ost (1987)

Answer 11

no clear memory - phobia develops post incident - learnt behaviour

Question 12

Eval treatment

Answer 12

• WORKS - ethical issues

Question 13

eval for explanations bad

Answer 13

• narrow / over simplistic
• ignores cog processes and mediations
• Seligman (1971) bio preparedness
• Tolman’s rats (1948) - bio innate readiness - Behav app= rejects innate behaviours