behaviourist approach to explaining phobias ao3 Flashcards
how is good explanatory power a strength of the two process model
definite step forward when proposed in 1960 as it went past the explanation that watson and rayner proposed. explained that phobias can be maintained over time, which has implications for therapies and it explains why patients need to be exposed to their fear otherwise it wont decline. high applicability
how is an alternative explanation for avoidance behaviour a weakness of the two process model
not all avoidance seems to be the result of anxiety reduction, evidence that it may be motivated by positive feels of safety too. with agorophobia, the motivating factor in staying home is to maintain a feeling of safety instead of avoiding the fear stimulus. this may explain why some are able to leave the house with a trusted person they feel safe with. this suggests another reason why some people avoid their phobia
how is social learning and bandura a weakness of the two process model
phobias can be acquired socially. bandura and rosenthal showed participants a man acting in pain when a buzzer was sounded, those who observed began to develop a fear reaction to the buzzer. this suggests modelling can contribute to phobia acquisition
how is bounton and seligman’s biological preparedness a weakness of the two process model
bounton points out that evolutionary factors play an important role, we acquire phobias of past sources of danger and adapt to those fears. seligman called this biological preparedness (the innate predisposition to acquire certain fears). this shows there is more to fear than just conditioning.
