Behavioural Explanations For Phobias Flashcards
What is the Two Process Model?
A model explaining how phobias are created and maintained through classical and operant conditioning.
Proposed by Mowrer (1947).
Who conducted the Little Albert Study?
Watson and Raynor in 1920.
This study demonstrated how an initial phobia can be created through classical conditioning.
What is classical conditioning?
A learning process that involves associating an initially neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response.
UCS + IS → ULR; CS → CR.
What does UCS stand for?
Unconditioned Stimulus.
This is a stimulus that naturally triggers a response without prior conditioning.
What does ULR stand for?
Unconditioned Response.
This is the natural reaction to an unconditioned stimulus.
What is operant conditioning?
A learning process that explains how behaviors are maintained through consequences, such as reinforcement and punishment.
It emphasizes the role of rewards and avoidances.
What role does negative reinforcement play in phobias?
It encourages avoidance behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus.
Avoidance learning helps maintain the initial association between the stimulus and response.
Who conducted research suggesting that traumatic experiences can lead to phobias?
DiNardo in 1988.
His work highlighted how experiences like being bitten by a dog can contribute to the development of a phobia.
What is the significance of Di Gallo’s findings in 1996?
He suggested that phobias can be explained by the association of fear and pain with the source of the traumatic experience.
His research indicated that avoidance behaviors linked to phobias are often reinforced.
How can effective treatments for phobias be achieved according to behaviorist approaches?
By stopping avoidance behaviors and breaking the association between the phobic object and the fear response.
This approach is based on behavior modification techniques.
What is a biological explanation for the development of phobias?
Phobias may have evolved as survival mechanisms to be afraid of dangerous stimuli.
This suggests a genetic predisposition to fear certain threats.
True or False: Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event develops a phobia.
True.
Some individuals may experience trauma but do not develop a phobia, indicating other factors may be involved.
Fill in the blank: The ____________ Model explains how phobias are created and maintained.
Two Process
What percentage of people in DiNardo’s control group reported negative experiences with dogs?
50%.
This statistic emphasizes that not all individuals with phobias have had direct negative experiences.
