Explanations of Phobias Flashcards
What is the two process model?
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning
What does the behavioural approach believe?
All behaviour is learned through a process of conditioning
How are phobias acquired?
Through classical conditioning
How are phobias maintained?
Through operant conditioning
When does classical conditioning ok phobia development occur?
When a neutral stimulus is paired with a fear response
Who was Little Albert?
An 11 month old a baby who did not easily fright, he was shown several different animals and was observed
What was John Watson’s classical conditioning test?
UCS (loud noise) —> UCR (fear)
NS (white rate) —> X ( no response)
UCS + NS —> UCR
CS (white rat) —> CR (fear)
Why did Little Albert become scared of the white rat?
He made an association between fear and the rat
What is operant conditioning?
A process of learning where the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated, and therefore learned, is increased if the consequences or the behaviour is rewarding
Why does operant conditioning help maintain a phobia?
People with phobias go to great lengths to avoid their fears, often planning ahead
How does avoiding a phobia help the person?
They feel relieved and their anxiety levels drop, therefore they learn that the phobic stimulus is in fact harmless
What does the two process model of phobias assume?
A person has to directly experience a situation/ object in order to develop a phobia of it, however some argue that this does not have to be the case
What does the social learning theory suggest?
Some people learn their phobias through observing and imitating their role models
What did Merckelbach find?
41% of girls with arachnophobia developed it through classical conditioning, and 18% could identify that it started when they observed one of their parents reacting fearfully to a spider
What are 3 evaluation points?
- ## Two process model only works for specific phobias / doesn’t take on other factors
