Explaining phobias Flashcards
Which one of the approaches explain phobias?
The behaviourist approach explains phobias
Who developed the explanation for phobias? When?
Orval Hobart Mowler developed the explanation in 1960
What are the models involved in explaining phobias?
The model is has two processes: classical conditioning and operant conditioning
What does classical conditioning say?
Classical conditioning states phobias develop through association between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus
What evidence by John Watson supports this explanation?
The Little Albert study by John Watson in 1920
Describe the Little Albert study in 1920
Little Albert developed a phobia of white rats. The rat become a phobia after the continuous pairing of the white rat (neutral stimulus) and a loud noise (unconditioned stimulus). This made the rat become a conditioned stimulus and created a conditioned response from Albert
After becoming fearful of white rats, what did Little Albert start to do?
Little Albert started to generalise his fears to similar furry objects (a rabbit, fur coats and even Watson wearing a santa claus suit)
What does operant conditioning state
Operant conditioning states phobias are maintained through operant conditioning
What increase the frequency of behaviour
Reinforcement increases frequency of behaviour. The person with phobia will avoid situations that lead to fear (negative reinforcement)
What does negative reinforcement result in?
Negative reinforcement results in the person having their desired response (running away from their fear)
What happens when continuous desired responses are achieved by person with phobia?
Once the continued desired response is achieved it will lead to repeated behaviours
How many evaluation points are there for the behaviourist approach of explaining phobias?
There are three evaluation points
What is a limitation of the behaviourist explanation of phobias? (characteristic of phobias)
The behaviourist approach only accounts for the behaviourist characteristics and neglects the cognitive characteristics like irrational thoughts
What is a strength of the behaviourist explanation of phobias? (little albert)
Little Albert highlighted the link between traumatic experiences and developing phobias. This formed the base of Ad De Jongh et al (2006)
A study was conducted amongst people who had a fear of dental treatments and it was found many had previous traumatic experiences which suggested associations between stimulus and response leading to the phobias
What is a limitation of the behaviourist explanation of phobias? (evolution theory)
Phobias are not all developed through the association of stimuluses and traumatic experiences, which the evolution theory proves. The theory states we have developed phobias after objects have presented a danger in our evolutionary past.
This theory is useful for understanding fear of objects we do not have traumatic experiences with. For example peoples’ fear of snakes without bad experiences
