Explaining Phobias

Question 1

what approach is used to explain phobias?

Answer 1

behaviourist approach

Question 2

who proposed the two process model?

Answer 2

Mowrer

Question 3

how are phobias acquired?

Answer 3

classical conditioning(associations)

Question 4

how are phobias maintained?

Answer 4

operant conditioning(consequences)

Question 5

who are the researchers involved in the classical conditioning of phobias?

Answer 5

Watson and Rayner

Question 6

what did Watson and Rayner do?

Answer 6

• created a phobia in a 9-month old, Little Albert
• at the start of the study , Albert showed no anxiety and he tried to play with the neutral stimulus the white rat

Question 7

what is the process of classical conditioning in Little Albert’s experiment?

Answer 7

-rat(neutral stimulus)–>no fear(no response)
-noise, iron bar(unconditioned stimulus)–>fear(unconditioned response)
-noise(unconditioned stimulus)+white rat(neutral stimulus)–>fear(unconditioned response)
- white rat(conditioned stimulus)–>fear(conditioned response)

Question 8

how was the fear of white rats generalized?

Answer 8

• Little Albert was shown other furry objects, e.g. non-white rabbit, fur coat , Watson wearing a Santa Claus beard made out of cotton balls = little Albert did display distress at the sight of these

Question 9

how are phobias maintained through operant conditioning?

Answer 9

• through negative reinforcement
• the person avoids a situation which is unpleasant
• such avoidance behaviour results in desirable consequences = behaviour is repeated

Question 10

what did mowrer suggest we avoid phobia stimulus for?

Answer 10

• we successfully escape the fear and anxiety that we would have experienced if we had remained there
• the reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour, so phobia is maintained

Question 11

what are strengths of explaining phobias?

Answer 11

+real world applications in exposure therapies(like flooding)
- key element is two way process is that phobias are maintained through avoidance of phobic stimulus
- this is important in explaining why people benefit from being exposed to the phobic stimulus