**L6 - Behavioural Explanation of Phobias Flashcards
what is the TWO PROCESS MODEL?
The FIRST STAGE of the TWO PROCESS MODEL is that the PHOBIA IS INITIATED THROUGH CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
The SECOND STAGE is when the PHOBIA IS MAINTAINED through OPERANT CONDITIONING
what is CLASSICAL CONDITIONING?
CLASSICAL CONDITIONING is LEARNING THROUGH ASSOICATION.
A STIMULUS PRODUCED THE SAME REPONSE AS ANOTHER STIMLUS because they have been CONSTANTLY PRESENTED AT THE SAME TIME.
This could be how PHOBIAS DEVELOP, as the stimulus the person is afraid of has, in the past, been ASSOCIATED WITH ANOTHER STIMULUS
what was WATSON AND RAYNER’S EXPERIMENT? - PT 1
In one famous study, WATSON AND RAYNER managed to give an INFANT BOY referred to as ‘LITTLE ALBERT’ a PHOBIA OF A WHITE RAT.
Initially LITTLE ALBERT was not afraid of the rat and was keen to play with it
WATSON AND RAYNER did this by STRIKING A METAL BAR BEHIND LITTLE ALBERT’S HEAD EVERY TIME he REACHED FOR THE RAT
what was WATSON AND RAYNER’S EXPERIMENT? - PT 2
The LOUD NOISE STARTLED ALBERT and MADE HIM CRY.
Eventually ALBERT CRIED EVERY TIME HE SAW THE RAT.
He also BECAME AFRAID OF OTHER WHITE FLUFFY OBJECTS.
how does CLASSICAL CONDITIONING ACTUALLY WORK - in terms of LITTLE ALBERT? - PT 1
An INFANT is BORN with CERTAIN REFLEXES; the STIMULUS OF A LOUD NOISE is an UNCONDITIONED STIMULUS and produces the REFLEX OF FEAR as an UNCONDITIONED STIMULUS
A WHITE RAT is a NEUTRAL STIMULUS as it PRODUCES NO REFLEXES - however over time, as it is PAIRED CONSISTENTLY WITH THE LOUD NOISE, an ASSOCIATION IS BUILT UP BETWEEN THE TWO THINGS
how does CLASSICAL CONDITIONING ACTUALLY WORK - in terms of LITTLE ALBERT? - PT 2
The WHITE RAT then becomes a CONDITIONED STIMULUS that PRODUCES FEAR as a CONDITIONED STIMULUS
This CONDITIONED RESPONSE of FEAR can then be GENERALISED to OTHER OBJECTS or SITUATIONS.
LITTLE ALBERT became scared of ANY OBJECT THAT WAS WHITE OR FLUFFY
what is OPERANT CONDITIONING?
OPERANT CONDITIONING is LEARNING THROUGH THE CONSEQUENCES of ONE’S BEHAVIOUR
what are the 4 TYPES OF OPERANT CONDITIONING? (PNPN)
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT
NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT
POSTIVE PUNISHMENT
NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT
what is POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT?
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT is when a BEHAVIOUR LEADS TO A REWARD and this makes the individual MORE LIKELY TO REPEAT THE BEHAVIOUR
what is NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT?
NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT is when carrying out a SPECIFIC BEHAVIOUR STOPS SOMETHING UNPLEASANT and this makes the individual MORE LIKELY TO REPEAT THE BEHAVIOUR
what is POSITIVE PUNISHMENT?
POSITIVE PUNISHMENT involves adding an AVERSIVE STIMULUS to the individual’s life in order to PREVENT THEM or MAKE THEM LESS LIKELY TO REPEAT A CERTAIN UNDESIRABLE BEHAVIOUR
what is NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT?
NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT is when we TAKE SOMETHING GOOD AWAY from a person to make them LESS LIKELY TO REPEAT A PARTICULAR UNDESIRABLE BEHAVIOUR IN FUTURE
what is a GENERAL DIFFERENCE between PUNISHMENTS and REINFORCEMENTS?
REINFORCEMENT aims to INCREASE THE FREQUENCY of a PARTICULAR BEHAVIOUR because it is DESIRABLE -such as a student doing their HW on time
PUNISHMENT aims to REDUCE THE FREQUENCY of a PARTICULAR BEHAVIOUR because it is UNDESIRABLE - such as getting into a fight at school
+ NO STIGMA (EVALUATION OF THE TWO PROCESS MODEL)
+ this model DOES NOT LABEL PEOPLE with the STIGMA of being MENTALLY ILL. Such labels can be DAMAGING because they tend to be DIFFICULT TO REMOVE
Instead the model is POSITIVE, perceiving PHOBIAS AS INCORRECT RESPONSES THAT CAN BE CORRECTED
+ KING (EVALUATION OF THE TWO PROCESS MODEL)
+ KING REVIEWED SEVERAL CASE STUDIES and found that CHILDREN ACQUIRE PHOBIAS after having TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES with the PHOBIC OBJECT (e.g children bitten by a dog might develop a PHOBIA OF DOGS)
This SUPPORTS THE IDEA that PHOBIAS ARE INITIATED because they are LEARNED THORUGH CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
