behavioural explanations for phobias

Question 1

What model did Mowrer propose?

Answer 1

Two process model
Acquired by classical conditioning
Continue using operant conditioning

Question 2

Who researched classical conditioning?

Answer 2

Watson and Rayner - Little Albert

Question 3

Describe the Little Albert study?

Answer 3

Presented Albert with ray making a loud frightening noise
Noise - unconditioned stimulus
Fear - unconditioned stimulus
Rat associated with fear
Rat - conditioned stimulus
Fear - conditioned response

Question 4

How did they extend the Little Albert study?

Answer 4

Tested other furry objects like a rabbit

Distress at others

Question 5

How does operant conditioning maintain a phobia?

Answer 5

Negative reinforcement - avoid phobic stimulus to escape anxiety

Question 6

Evaluation - good explanatory power

Answer 6

Explains how phobias are maintained over time

Important for therapy: why patients need to be exposed to stimulus

Question 7

Evaluation - alt explanation for avoidance

Answer 7

Some avoidance is motivated by safety
Agoraphobia - can leave house with someone but not alone
Two process model suggests avoidance is motivated by anxiety reduction
Undermines

Question 8

Evaluation - incomplete explanation of phobias

Answer 8

Bounton - some phobias are evolutionary
Adaptive to fear the dark, snakes
Biological preparedness - predisposition to acquire certain fears

Question 9

Evaluation - phobias that don’t follow trauma

Answer 9

Social learning - see someone else react fearfully to something
Not always a traumatic situation
Not all phobias are conditioned

Question 10

Evaluation - cognitive aspects of phobias

Answer 10

Behavioural explanations explain behaviour
Ignores cognitive aspects
Doesn’t explain whole phobia