Behaviourist approach to explaining phobias Flashcards
What are the two parts of the two process model?
Classical conditioning - initiation
Operant conditioning - maintenance
Classical conditioning - initiation
For example; a fear of dogs
Being bitten by the dog is the UCS which produces the UCR of fear
The dog NS without the association of a bite would not produce the response of fear
However, when the UCS (bite) is paired with the NS (dog) the UCR is produced
From now on, the NS alone will now produce the CR of fear
Little Albert had a fear of white fluffy objects (NS) when paired with a loud noise (UCS)
Operant Conditioning - maintenance
The likelyhood of a behaviour being repeated increases if the outcome is rewarded.
-e.g avoidance of the phobia is rewarding, as it takes away something bad (stress/fear)
-Therefore this reinforces the phobia through negative reinforcement
AO3 +
Support for classical conditioning
The majority of people with phobias DO recall a specific incident which started the phobia
-However it is possible that people may have forgotten the event that triggered the phobia if it was a long time ago
AO3 +
Support for classical comditioning
Little Albert
-Every time a white rat got near him a loud bang sounded from behind him
-He then developed the CS of white rats, through association with the UCS (bang) which led to UCR (CR) of fear
(they acquired the CS of fear)
AO3 -
Incomplete explanation
NS + UCR (Fear) doesn’t always lead to a phobia
-e.g, not everyone bitten by a dog has a phobia of dogs
-therefore there could be a genetic vulnerability which leads to the formation of phobias
AO3 -
Ignores cognitive factors
Cognitive approach proposes that phobias may develop due to irrational thinking
-e.g chlostrophobia
(i could become trapped in here and die)
If phobias were explained by cognitive factors, CBT could also be used to treat them
