Behaviourist approach to explaining phobias

Question 1

What do behaviourist psychologists assume

Answer 1

People are born as blank slates
At birth, its just the capacity to learn
Behaviour is learnt from the environment
Humans learn through stimulus response association

Question 2

How are phobias formed

Answer 2

Classical conditioning

Question 3

Outline the study related to classical conditioning as a way of forming phobias

Answer 3

Little Albert study by Watson and Rayner
Association between a loud noise (US) and a white rat(NS)
Loud noise + rat done 3 times
Fear of rat is created(CR)
Therefore phobia of white rat is created

Question 4

How are phobias maintained

Answer 4

Operant conditioning (Negative reinforcement)

Question 5

Describe how negative reinforcement maintains phobias

Answer 5

Phobia causes anxiety
Person avoids what causes anxiety
Lack of anxiety is desirable/Negative feeling is removed
Behaviour that reduces anxiety is reinforced
Phobic behaviour is maintained

Question 6

Evaluate the behaviourist explanation of phobias

Answer 6

Real world application - Therapy e.g. systematic desensitisation/flooding

Phobias can be developed without encountering stimulus (SLT)

Phobias can be gained biologically (evolution)

Reductionism vs holism