Behavioural Explanations - Phobia Flashcards
2 Strengths (and counter) of the behaviourist approach to explaining phobias
Good explanatory power:
Ad De Jongh et al. (2006) - 73% of people with a fear of dental treatment had experienced a traumatic experience compared to a control group of people with low dental anxiety where only 21% had experienced a traumatic event. COUNTER- However, not everyone who has a phobia can recall a traumatic experience that caused it.
Also not all frightening experiences lead to phobias. This suggests that other processes, other than classical conditioning, may be involved in the development of phobias.
Practical applications:
The behavioural explanation has been used to develop effective treatments for phobias- systematic desensitisation and flooding. This has proved very practical in the real world to help
people deal and overcome their fears, using research based on the behavioural approach.
2 Limitations of the behaviourist approach to treating phobias
Ignores biological factors:
Research has found that not everyone who has a traumatic experience develops a phobia. This could be explained by the diathesis-stress model. This suggests that we inherit a genetic vulnerability for developing mental disorders. However, a disorder will only manifest itself if triggered by a life event. Therefore, the behavioural explanation is incomplete on its own, as it does not take into account biological factors.
Ignores cognitive factors
There are cognitive aspects to phobias that cannot be explained in a traditionally behaviourist framework. An alternative explanation is the cognitive approach, which proposes that phobias may develop as the consequence of irrational thinking. For example, a person in a lift may think ‘I could become trapped in here and suffocate’ (an irrational though). Such thoughts create extreme anxiety and may trigger a phobia. The two-process model explains avoidance behaviour but does not offer an adequate explanation for phobic cognition
What is the behavioural approach?
A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning.
What is classical conditioning?
Learning through association – a neutral stimulus is consistently paired with an unconditioned stimulus so that it eventually produces a conditioned response.
What is operant conditioning?
Learning through reinforcement or punishment – if a behaviour is followed by a desirable consequence, then that behaviour is more likely to occur again in the future.
Name the researcher who proposed the two-process model.
Orval Hobart Mowrer (1947).
What is the two-process model?
A theory that explains the two processes that lead to the development of phobias – they are acquired through classical conditioning and are maintained through operant conditioning.
State the research study that demonstrates the acquisition of a phobia through classical conditioning.
Watson and Rayner (1920) – Little Albert.
Describe the Little Albert research
At the beginning of the study, Albert showed no fear response to white furry animals (NS)
They created a conditioned response of fear by pairing it with a loud noise which produced fear (Unconditioned stimulus). Whenever Albert reached out to the rat they struck a steel bar with a hammer behind his head. The NS of the rat became associated with the US of the loud bang so that the white rat alone caused the fear response, becoming a CS.
Explain how a phobia is maintained through operant conditioning.
Reinforcement applies to phobias as whenever we avoid a phobic stimulus we successfully escape the fear and anxiety we would have suffered if we had remained. This reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour (negative reinforcement) so we are more likely to repeat it and the phobia is maintained.
