Behaviourist Approach: Explaining Phobias

Question 1

Classical conditioning

Answer 1

Learning by association

Question 2

Operant conditioning

Answer 2

Learning by consequence, reinforcement and punishment. If the behaviours is rewarded it is more likely to be repeated.

Question 3

The two process model:

Answer 3

Classical conditioning is how phobias are formed. Operant conditioning is how phobias are maintained.

Question 4

Example of two process model:

Answer 4

Acquiring (classical conditioning):
Before:
snakes (NS) ➡️ no fear (No response)
Any bite (UCS) ➡️ fear of pain (UCR)
During:

Maintaining: escape from the phobic stimulus aka avoidance ( negative reinforcement: unpleasant consequence of fear/anxiety is removed which increases avoidance behaviour to reduce fear).

Question 5

+ real world application

Answer 5

The idea that phobias are maintained by avoidance is important in explaining why some people benefit from talking therapies - once avoidance is prevented it is no longer reinforced so avoidance behaviour then declines. This shows the two way process is valuable as it identifies ways to treat phobias.

Question 6

+ there is evidence linking phobias to bad experiences.

Answer 6

• Phobics often recall a specific incident when their phobia appeared e.g being bitten by a dog leads to phobia of dogs.
• 73% of dental phobics had experienced trauma (the control group with low dental phobia where anxiety is only 21%). Confirms that association between stimulus and unconditioned response does lead to phobia.

Question 7

— There are cognitive elements that the behaviourist approach cannot explain.

Answer 7

• the cognitive approach proposes that phobias may develop as the consequence of irrational thinking e.g “I could be trapped in this lift and suffocate” is an irrational thought which could trigger extreme anxiety and lead to a phobia.
• therefore, cognitive therapies such as CBT may be more successful than the behaviourist treatments for certain phobias.

Question 8

— alternative explanations

Answer 8

• not everyone can remember traumatic incidents ( a study found that only 50% could)
• the diathesis stress model could explain this: we inherit a genetic vulnerability for developing a disorder that will only manifest itself after a traumatic event - those with the genetic vulnerability develop a phobia, those without it do t.

Question 9

— Biological preparedness

Answer 9

• animals such as humans are genetically programmed to rapidly fear certain stimuli e.g snakes, strangers because they are potentially life-threatening. This biological preparedness means that behavioural explanations cannot account for the development of all phobias.