Lesson 6 - Behavioural Explanation of Phobias

Question 1

The Two Process Model for Explaining Phobias

Answer 1

The phobia is initiated through classical conditioning

The phobia is maintained through operant conditioning

Question 2

Classical Conditioning

Answer 2

Learning through association
A stimulus produces the same response as another stimulus because they have been constantly presented at the same time
This could be how phobias develop as the stimulus the person is afford of has been associated with another stimulus

Question 3

Classical Conditioning

Watson and Raynor (1920)

Answer 3

Little Albert
Initially Albert was keen to play with the rat
Watson and Raynor strikes a metal bar behind Albert’s head every time he reached for the rat
The loud noise startled him and made him cry
This was repeated over a two week period creating an association for Albert of the loud bang with the white rat
This was then generalised for all other white fluffy objects

Question 4

Classical Conditioning Process

Answer 4

Infant is born with certain reflexes (loud nouse is unconditioned stimulus and produces reflex of fear as unconditioned response)
White rat is a neutral stimulus as it produces no reflexes
White rat becomes associated with unconditioned stimulus of loud noise
White rat becomes conditioned stimulus producing fear as a conditioned responses
Conditioned response can be generalised to similar situations

Question 5

Operant Conditioning

Answer 5

Learning through the consequences of one’s behaviour

Question 6

Operant Conditioning Reinforcements

Answer 6

Positive Reinforcement - behaviour leads to a reward
Negative Reinforcement - behaviour stops something unpleasant
Punishment - behaviour leads to something unpleasant

Avoidance of a phobic object reduces fear and so is reinforcing (negative reinforcement)

Question 7

Two Process Model Evaluation
Labelling
Positive

Answer 7

Does not label people with the stigma of being mentally ill
Such labels can be damaging as they tend to be difficult to remove
Instead model is positive, perceiving phobias as incorrect responses that can be correced

Question 8

Two Process Model Evaluation
King (1998)
Positive

Answer 8

Reviewed several case studies and found children acquire phobias after having traumatic experiences with the phobic object
Supports idea that phobias are initiated because they are learned through classical conditioning

Question 9

Two Process Model Evaluation
Inconclusive
Negative

Answer 9

Many people who have a traumatic experience, such as a car accident, do not go on to develop a phobia
Classical conditioning does not explain how all phobias develop

Question 10

Two Process Model Evaluation
No Experience
Negative

Answer 10

Some people are scared of an object but have not had a negative experience or even encountered the object before
One study found that 50% of people who have a phobia of a dog have never had a bad experience involving a dog so learning cannot have been a factor

Question 11

Two Process Model Evaluation
Biological Factors
Negative

Answer 11

This model focuses on learning and the environment but does not take account of biological factors that can cause phobias
Some people could have a genetic vulnerability to phobias

Question 12

Two Process Model Behaviour of Phobias Evaluation Points

Answer 12

Labelling Positive
King (1998) Positive

Inconclusive Negative
No Experience Negative
Biological Factors Negative