Behaviourist approach explaining phobias

Question 1

Who proposed the Two Process Model

Answer 1

Mowrer 1960

Question 2

How is a phobia acquired

Answer 2

through classical conditioning

Question 3

Example of a phobia being acquired

Answer 3

Little Albert

Question 4

Outline the case of little albert

Answer 4

White rat initially a NS that did not evoke a fear response. A loud noise was the UCS which caused fear as an UCR. When Albert was exposed to the NS the UCS would be played. This was repeated 6x. The CS was the white rat which evoked the CRS of fear. Stimulus generalisation ment that Albert feared all white fluffy things

Question 5

Stimulus generalisation

Answer 5

similar stimulus evokes the same conditioned response

Question 6

Maintenance of phobias

Answer 6

operant conditioning

Question 7

How does operant conditioning maintain phobias

Answer 7

explains why individuals continue to avoid a feared stimulus
negative reinforcement
an individual avoids something unpleasant which causes a positive experience (decrease in anxiety)

Question 8

Strength of the Two Process Model

Answer 8

good practical application
helps understand the disorder- can help treat it

Question 9

Limitations of the two process model

Answer 9

reductionism- doesn’t take into account other theories
cognitive approach- many phobias acquired through irrational thinking
Seligman (1970) biological preparedness
diathesis stress model