behavioural explanations of phobias

Question 1

what is the two process model

Answer 1

• a model to describe how phobias form, the two processes are classical and operant conditioning
• phobias are learnt via CC and maintained via OC

Question 2

classical conditioning

Answer 2

• phobias can be gained by associative learning
• we learn to associate something we don’t fear (NS) with something that triggers a fear response (UCS), after an association is made the stimulus (CS) causes a fear response (CR)

Question 3

key study: watson and rayner (1920)
little albert

Answer 3

• investigate if a fear response can be learnt in humans through CC
• at the start, the 11 month old showed no response to various objects, particularly a white rat. watson and rayner struck a metal bar with a hammer behind his head which startled him each time he went to reach for the rat. they did this 3 times
• after, whenever they showed him the rat, he cried
• shows a fear response can be induced in humans via CC, and that the fear can be generalised to similar objects

Question 4

operant conditioning

Answer 4

• phobias can be negatively reinforced, the phobia is strengthened when an unpleasant consequence (anxiety) is removed
• e.g. if someone with a phobia of lifts always takes the stairs, they’re constantly avoiding their phobia
• the avoidance negatively reinforces the behaviour, increasing the chance of avoidance, which maintains the phobia

Question 5

give strength of behavioural explanations of phobias
1/2

Answer 5

supporting research evidence. watson and rayner demonstrated CC in phobia formation in little albert, he was conditioned to fear white rats. supports the idea that CC is involved in forming phobias in humans and that the phobia can generalise to similar stimuli.

COUNTER= since this was a case study its hard to generalise the findings to other children or adults due to the investigations unique nature

Question 6

give strength of behavioural explanations of phobias
2/2

Answer 6

application to therapy. theories have been used to develop treatments like systematic desensitisation and flooding. systematic desensitisation helps people unlearn fears using CC principles, flooding prevents avoidance and negative reinforcement occurring. these therapies have been successful in treating people with phobias, supports the effectiveness of the behaviourist explanation

Question 7

give limitation of behavioural explanations of phobias
1/3

Answer 7

ignores the role of cognition. phobias may develop due to irrational thinking not just learning. e.g. someone with claustrophobia may think ‘I’m gonna be trapped and suffocate’ which is an irrational thought that this explanation doesn’t account for. the cognitive approach has also led to CBT which has been seen to be more successful than behaviourist treatments

Question 8

give limitation of behavioural explanations of phobias
2/3

Answer 8

may not provide a full explanation for phobias. bounton (2007) says evolutionary factors can play a role in phobias, esp if the avoidance of a stimulus could have caused pain or death to ancestors. some phobias like snakes and heights may be innate not learnt as they were a survival mechanism for ancestors. this innate predisposition to phobias is biological preparedness and casts doubt on the two process model (more to phobias than learning)

Question 9

give limitation of behavioural explanations of phobias
3/3

Answer 9

reductionist and over simplistic by reducing human behaviour to a simple stimulus response association. it ignores cognition and the idea that phobias may develop but to irrational thinking. its subject to environmental determinism by ignoring the role of free will in the formation of phobias