Evaluating The Behavioural Approach To Explaining Phobias

Question 1

Diathesis-Stress Model:

Answer 1

we inherit a generic vulnerability for developing mental disorders which will only manifest if triggered by a life event

Question 2

Biological Preparedness:
Martin Seligman (1970)

Answer 2

argues that animals and humans are genetically programmed to rapidly learn an association between potentially life threatening stimuli and fear. Thee stimuli are ANCIENT FEARS that would have been dangerous in our evolutionary part. This shows that behavioural explanations alone aren’t enough to explain phobias

Question 3

The two-process model ignores cognitive factors:

Answer 3

Phobias may also develop as the consequence of irrational thinking and such thoughts create extreme anxiety and thus trigger a phobia